Thursday, September 15, 2011

Thorium nuclear energy

While I was researching a geology talk for a local Girl Scout Troop I came stumbled upon research showing some initial promise for using Thorium in a nuclear reactor.  In Forbes, William Pentland writes about a Thorium energy breakthrough covering some of the basics for energy production.  The Weinberg Foundation is promoting Thorium as a safer alternative to Uranium based nuclear power.   James Murray posted an article about NGO fuel safe Thorium nuclear reactors.  The chief benefits appear to be shorter half life nuclear wastes, lower water use, smaller scale, the waste is not useful for bomb production.  China is currently developing a Thorium based reactor.

Kirk Sorenson's TED lecture on Thorium as a nuclear fuel for a  future lunar community and on earth

More information can be found at energyfromthorium.com.

I'd be interested in a further discussion of the pros and cons of this technology.

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