#068 Behind the Scenes of a Nuclear Microreactor Startup with Matt Loszak, Founder CEO of Aalo Atomics

Listen to the full episode now: https://kite.link/smartfriends68t

Back in the ‘50s, people dreamt eagerly of a nuclear-powered future. After a dark period in the ‘80s, nuclear energy is having a glow-up.

Today we hang out with Matt Loszak, founder of Aalo Atomics. Aalo’s near-term mission is to make nuclear microreactors that could achieve 3￠/kWh electricity. Long-term, they will provide abundant and reliable clean energy.

?? Disclaimer: We are investors in Aalo through Rolling Fun!

In this episode, we cover the perception of nuclear energy and how it affects regulation. We talk about how reactor technology has improved and gotten safer. Aalo plans to build on these recent developments to help bring about the second atomic age.

Here’s what I learned from the episode:

• Matt shares he studied engineering and physics, did a stint as an acoustical engineer, then built a successful HR software business. Now, he’s turning his life’s work back to atoms and energy.
• Matt was drawn to nuclear energy because of the disparity between its public perception and reality. Nuclear is an underdog technology.
• The exponential growth of nuclear reactors worldwide plateaued around the 80s due to fears and uncertainties regarding nuclear safety, meltdowns, and waste management.
• The perception of nuclear waste as harmful is misguided. Throughout history in the U.S., all the waste produced could fit on one football field stacked 10 meters high, and has never harmed anyone.
• Radiation exists naturally in our environment, from all around us.
• There is a tough catch-22: Regulators require test data for a new nuclear design license, but obtaining this data is impossible without the license.
• There are challenges with relying solely on renewables since they are unpredictable. The oil and gas industry favors renewables because they know natural gas will still be necessary as a backup.
• A global energy grid should have diverse sources feeding into it. While nuclear energy is reliable, it doesn't have the flexibility of coal or natural gas for peak load demands.
• The Marvel reactor, an advanced reactor using liquid metal as coolant, is slated to be the first microreactor built in the US in decades. It's designed to be economical and safe.
• Aalo plans to create a scaled-up version of the Marvel reactor, leveraging test data from Idaho National Lab to assist in regulatory processes.
• The long-term objective is to reach economies of scale through mass manufacturing.
• Ultimately, Aalo aims to produce a much larger 300-megawatt reactor that is affordable and can compete at a utility-scale.
• Beyond producing electrical power, microreactors can be used for industrial heat processes, desalination, and replacing diesel generators in remote areas.
• There’s a collaborative spirit among nuclear startups. The more the public supports nuclear, the more momentum all of these companies gain.
• While having a background in nuclear is helpful, Aalo is hiring people from all sectors like software and aerospace.
• The nuclear industry at large needs to triple its workforce to achieve its deployment goals, so there will be lots of new jobs in this area!

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Be well,

Eric