The Economics of Flibe's LFTR Thorium Molten Salt Reactor | Ep. 5

We've established that LFTRs are the best solution for clean, safe, and reliable energy, but did you know that, if implemented, they would provide massive economic benefits to every American at every income level?

0:00 Introduction

#nuclearenergy #thorium #moltensaltreactor #LFTR #CleanEnergy #climatechange

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[RayT]

For the last couple of years, I've been obsessed with Thorium and specifically the LFTR. It's hard for me to even describe to someone in a conversation ALL of the things that make it awesome. Seriously, so many awesome things. Loving the podcast so far. It reinforces a lot of what I already know and I've learned new stuff (and seen new ways of looking at the economics of LFTRs) with every episode. Looking forward to the next one!

[robfer]

All other power plants in the world : = " Man, what a good job we do, making power and shit "
LFTRs : = " Hold my beer "

[bvdbroek]

Great video! I miss only the fact that from the excess heat of the LFTR we could distill seawater into fresh water. There are so many benefits using the LFTR.

[neillhames]

Thanks for your videos. In these days of doom and gloom I enjoy listening to something positive and hopeful.

[Bloated_Tony_Danza]

I love this channel, one of my favorites by a long shot!!!

[jacobrip]

What happened to the idea of extracting CO2 from the atmosphere to make the liquid fuels (the carbon neutral path)?
Though, I did like the talk.

[paulbradford]

Great video. Your content is chock full of good information. Keep up the good work.

[markdavis]

Pyrolysis of plastic and other waste streams from reactor waste heat would be the most responsible use of this resource. The resulting chemicals could be used to make more plastic products or used as fuel. The type of plastic would not matter as much. True recycling by a practical method.

[dsl]

to add on to the aluminum comment in the video. If you add the ability to add Scandium to the aluminum, then you'd be also developing a new high performance alloy industry.... which is more $$$

[seaplaneguy]

This sounds great. Fuel making is key.

[brobsonmontey]

Australia should be a leader in LFTR. Australia has the perfect conditions for nascent LFTR commercialisation due to an abundance of raw materials, a high technology economy and society, and existing very high energy costs. These mean that thorium can be acquired relatively inexpensively, there is an abundance of science and engineering resources to support the establishment and operation of an LFTR facility, and the current cost of electricity to consumers means that an LFTR facility can be profitable more quickly than in other locations.

[thewitheredfigtree]

Great job Sean! You forgot to add in LFTR t-shirt sales. :-)

[anderskarlsson]

How close is it with a reactor in produktion?

[JohnChampagne]

When we do cost comparisons, we should do one for the current system of dishonest prices, which gives the advantage to those who pursue goals by foisting costs onto society, the environment and future inhabitants of the planet. Then we should do one with the assumption that we correct the defect of a dishonest market system, where polluting industries and those that deplete natural resources or destroy habitat are made to pay fees, which are set high enough to bring various kinds of impact into line with what most people think is acceptable.

[charlesbeaudry]

The issue of MSR is not the economics which everyone agrees is very favorable but it is the technologies online chemistry. Until and unless we are able to process the salt, which because of fission is filling up and must be cleaned upwith no human intervention and must be able to operate with little or no maintenance for extended periods. This may not apply in Big Power applications but will certainly be the case with SMR's.

[jameskell]

Great work and channel. A couple of suggestions on this piece. a) try justifying a LFTR without complicating it with fossil fuel production, or else you lose a big chunk of viewers who are watching this as a bid to move away from fossil fuels. It will be a more powerful message that way; b) also look at market pricing for energy, using LCOE to show that it is in the ballpark of the current energy market; c) add in percentages for EBIT, NPAT and ROI, more powerful when used with those raw numbers. Hope that helps. Like I said, great channel. Keep going!

[konradcomrade]

additionally, what fascinates me, is the possibility of easy extracting (sequestering) tritium as a by-product. Tritium, ³H_isotope is dangerous and valuable at the same time! (it may be a safe-handling nightmare also) It is the fuel for long-range, energetic, interplanetary space activities. it will be important for superior, space-faring superpowers, to have it available. So the Brayton-Cycle CO2-turbine (the necessary prerequisite for enabling sequestration of quantities of tritium) is as desirable as the Nuclear Submarine Nautilus was. At present, ³H_tritium is discharged into the ocean, because, when diluted in H2O it is not possible to concentrate it economically.

[jignyasuraseshchasmawala]

Hey Sean,
I really enjoy your channel content. I've been working on making a financial model of such a cogeneration station myself. I want to look at the cost of making other fuels like Diesel, Jet Fuel, etc. as well. I was wondering if you could tell me the source of the data which helped you generate the costing for Gasoline from a combined LFTR & CTL station. I could even share my findings with you if you're interested.

[battlehardenedsniper]

Another form of income will be the consumption of the waste form current nuclear plants. How much is that worth, not just financial, but socially?

[red-baitingswine]

Have you mentioned synthetic production of hydrocarbons from CO2 and water (using MSR power of course)? Could supply all our fossil fuel needs, essentially CO2-free (e.g. for the biggest emitter on the planet - more even than China - the US military). Why on Earth bother to mine and process coal?