Zone1 Could tiny nuclear reactors a mile deep be the energy problem answer?

[evenflow1969]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2026/04/02/acclaimed-physicist-and-his-daughter-are-burying-tiny-nuclear-reactors-a-mile-underground/

Tiny nuclear reactors a mile deep producing a kilowatt hour at 6 cents. Maybe this is a way forward. Even cheap and quick to build.

What does everyone think?

 

[task0778]

One wonders about the cost of drilling a hole like that a mile down as opposed to a same-size mini-reactor on the surface.

 

[1srelluc]

A mile down?

So a meltdown could get into the water table quicker?

 

[evenflow1969]

One wonders about the cost of drilling a hole like that a mile down as opposed to a same-size mini-reactor on the surface.

It's a bore hole only 32 inch in diameter and saves you the cost of the thick concrete domes required for above ground. 17 cents per kilowatt hour on above ground with years of construction and a great deal of space to put one. This mini reactor can literally be put in a farmers field.

 

[Darkwind]

Tiny reactors?


Shit.

Now that song is stuck in my head. Asshole.

 

[candycorn]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2026/04/02/acclaimed-physicist-and-his-daughter-are-burying-tiny-nuclear-reactors-a-mile-underground/

Tiny nuclear reactors a mile deep producing a kilowatt hour at 6 cents. Maybe this is a way forward. Even cheap and quick to build.

What does everyone think?

Big oil and Big Coal will never go for it.

Its intriguing.

 

[evenflow1969]

Big oil and Big Coal will never go for it.

Its intriguing.

I don't have a solution to keep big oil and coal in check. That would take coordination among the masses. They are really good at keeping us divided. The good news is unlike other possible solutions such as wind and solar the right is not against nuclear. I would imagine the propaganda against the mini nuclear option would be pointed at the left. Who knows only time will tell. Sooner or later we have to address the energy issue.

 

[EdwinAMartin]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2026/04/02/acclaimed-physicist-and-his-daughter-are-burying-tiny-nuclear-reactors-a-mile-underground/

Tiny nuclear reactors a mile deep producing a kilowatt hour at 6 cents. Maybe this is a way forward. Even cheap and quick to build.

What does everyone think?

There are a few companies that make small scalable reactors. Some are not doing well financially though. In any case, it's the transmission lines that account for 80%-90% of power plant costs, not the reactors themselves.

Another issue is American companies suck at building them. The Germans and French do a much better job, and should probably get the contracts over American companies.

 

[evenflow1969]

There are a few companies that make small scalable reactors. Some are not doing well financially though. In any case, it's the transmission lines that account for 80%-90% of power plant costs, not the reactors themselves.

Again the good thing about the tiny reactor. Due to the fact it is tiny they can be placed almost anywhere greatly reducing the cost of transmission. In the very least they could be the solution for these data centers that are going up. Even if they were only placed by the data centers that would relieve to stress the energy usage data centers place on the market. Is it a cure for all our issues? I just don't know. A lot of things look good on paper. Due to the low cost of building one it takes a great deal less money to find out. Certainly worth putting it to the test