NPR: Is Thorium A Magic Bullet For Our Energy Problems?

NPR ^ | May 4, 2012

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

As the search for cheap, safe and non-carbon emitting sources of energy continues, a band of scientists say the answer may be nuclear reactors fueled by thorium. Others caution that thorium reactors pose waste and proliferation risks. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the pros and cons of thorium reactors.

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Talk of the Nation

[19 min 36 sec]

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Martin had some counter arguments to that.....

The fight continues.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the link at post#12:

********************************************EXCERPT*************************************

The goal of the Carbon-Free Nuclear-Free project is to eliminate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels by promoting a zero-CO2 economy in the U.S., and to and to lay out a roadmap to achieve this as soon as is technically and economically practical, without resorting to nuclear power. It will take an integrated and comprehensive solution, as the issues of climate change, nuclear weapons proliferation, and security of oil supplies are intimately connected.

Inspired by the 2007 book Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy, state-efforts are currently leading the way. See below for additional reports, op-eds, testimony, and more resources related to Carbon-Free Nuclear-Free.

[starlifter]

[BitWielder1]

I've heard about Thorium reactors for years, but where are they?
Does anyone know how the existing (experimental?) Thorium reactors are doing?
Are we anywhere close to commercial break-even yet?

[W. W. SMITH]

The one at Oak Ridge was way past break even. it operated for 17000 hours producing power.

[arrogantsob]

I really did not see any refutation of the potential of Thorium reactors. There was no real claim that the author was wrong per se just some issues raised that would dampen enthusiasm.

I don’t have a dog in this fight although one of my sons is a conventional nuclear reactor operator but my guess is nothing comes without problems and unintended consequences and that would include thorium reactors.

The way things have worked, it must be said, is that the following generations have to clean up the present generation’s mistakes. So we have to be careful about making big ones for our kids’ sakes.

Waste issues are primarily political not technical. Yuka Flats could safely hold all the waste we could general for hundreds of years. But getting it there is a huge political problem.