The Earthineering Company

#TechWeekend Sep 2024 Pitch Competition Winner: Congrutulations to Dr. Kevin Hickerson, a nuclear physicist and the visionary founder of The Earthineering Company on a very well deserved win. The Earthineering Company is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to sustainability by transforming biowaste into carbon-neutral fuel through advanced nuclear technology. Here’s what makes The Earthineering Company stand out: Mission: To tackle carbon emissions, optimize land use, and revolutionize nuclear power by integrating it with carbohydrate processing to produce hydrocarbons. Technology: Utilizes a unique tri-reactor system powered by a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with TRISO uranium fuel, known for its safety and efficiency. Team: Comprises experts from diverse fields including nuclear physics, energy, law, AI, and machine learning, ensuring a holistic approach to their innovative solutions. Advisory Board: Features visionaries like Robert Zubrin, renowned for his work in nuclear and aerospace engineering, and Hakeem Oluseyi, an astrophysicist dedicated to space science education. Market Focus: Initially targeting the jet fuel market, aiming to meet the rising demand with a sustainable, carbon-neutral alternative. The Earthineering Company's approach not only promises to reduce carbon footprints but also redefines how we think about nuclear energy and waste management. Their win at Tech Weekend is a testament to the potential of innovative thinking in solving some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Join us in celebrating this milestone and keep an eye on The Earthineering Company as they move forward in their mission to create a more sustainable future!

I can’t believe it! It doesn’t feel real! Mark W. Nelson is posting from Vogtle, Georgia that the US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm just called for “hundreds” of large nuclear reactors to be built: "We need two hundred of these by 2050. Two down, one hundred and ninety-eight to go." I believe it was 2022 when I first made myself an absolute pest on US DOE folk’s mentions and inboxes. But why? But why? But why aren’t we building more AP1000’s? Why is it all “SMR and advanced” when we’ve got a proven design and large reactors are the most cost-effective way to build nuclear? But Vogtle wasn’t done yet and we weren’t ready for that conversation. This is a reminder to self that sometimes change does happen and the political gridlock that seems so intractable can turn around with startling speed. Back when I first got the AP1000 bug in 2022 it just wasn’t the time! (I even have a hilarious memory of hounding Westinghouse executives about why they’re they’re pushing out the senseless AP300 just to jump on the SMR trend when they should obviously be pushing the more cost-effective AP1000). With Vogtle 3&4 all done, the first pair of nuclear power reactors the USA has built for decades from scratch, it is the time to have this convo. They took too long and cost too much, but they were the First-of-a-kind. According to Jigar Shah Vogtle Unit 4 came in 30% cheaper than Unit 3 and Unit 5&6 would come in below $95/MWh. Closer to home, Korea just called for a further 4.9GW of nuclear capacity by 2038, in addition to 5.6GW currently under construction. Nuclear will be the largest source of power in the land of K-pop and kimchi. This is according to Bloomberg. I bet a healthy chunk of that is going to be large reactors too because I was just in Korea and it’s very clear: SMRs are awesome, but niche. You build SMRs when you have a reason. Is it a small grid? A remote location? Do you need industrial heat? Are you leveraging existing infrastructure like a coal drop-in? Otherwise it’s like almost anything else: scale matters. The cup for a large milkshake is only a little larger than a medium milkshake. But you get a lot more milkshake! THE ERA OF BIG NUCLEAR IS BACK!

President Joe Biden addresses the future of nuclear energy in the United States.???? President Cyril Ramaphosa uyezwa?