REACH (Telegram) 143 - Share your views on Singapore’s efforts in undergoing the INIR review to assess readiness for nuclear energy decisions. What areas should Singapore pay most attention to?
(SK)
20 May 2026 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
[20/5/2026 10:24 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,
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Megan 😊
[20/5/2026 10:30 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢
PM Lawrence Wong delivered a speech on 19 May, announcing that Singapore will undergo its first Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2027 to independently assess its capabilities and infrastructure readiness for nuclear energy.
PM Lawrence Wong emphasised that:
(1) No final decision has been made to adopt nuclear power, the review instead serves to evaluate the safety capabilities Singapore has built over the last decade;
(2) The first phase consists of evaluating 19 critical areas, including safety, emergency planning, and radioactive waste management;
(3) This process is not a near-term decision to deploy nuclear energy. Based on the experience of other countries, the preparatory process and infrastructure development can take well over 15 years;
(4) The government is currently preparing a self-evaluation report and the IAEA's independent findings and overall readiness assessments will be shared openly once completed.
💬 Share your views on Singapore’s efforts in undergoing the INIR review to assess readiness for nuclear energy decisions. What areas should Singapore pay most attention to?
👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/nuclear-energy-assessment-lawrence-wong-iaea-6127866
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/spore-to-undertake-review-by-un-atomic-watchdog-in-2027
----
[20/5/2026 11:06 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 1. The Government is taking the right approach by carefully assessing Singapore’s readiness for nuclear energy as part of Singapore's future energy mix, before making any decision. ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
[20/5/2026 11:07 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 2. I am confident that the Government will carefully assess various areas and considerations (e.g., safety, emergency response and technology readiness) before making any decision on nuclear energy. ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
[20/5/2026 11:07 am] 365: Safety, precautionary and containment measures are definitely a must. I think nuclear is important for our energy self sufficiency as the war has taught us, I believe technology has advanced much further that nuclear is generally safer relative to the past, but still just not be complacent with safety.
[20/5/2026 11:23 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,
We want to HEAR MORE from you on today’s topic!
We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
💬 Share your views on Singapore’s efforts in undergoing the INIR review to assess readiness for nuclear energy decisions. What areas should Singapore pay most attention to?
Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls!
The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.
Thank you.
Megan 😊
[20/5/2026 12:13 pm] Jun Ming: Ya but the waste management is a issue as we already have problems with our general waste. Now we need to deal with radioactive waste
[20/5/2026 12:22 pm] 365: From my understanding it's generally quite clean with little to minimal waste byproduct for the amount of energy it produces. Still need to wait for studying conclusions to verify.
[20/5/2026 12:24 pm] 365: Just what I got from AI
If you (individual) got 100% of your electricity solely from nuclear energy for your entire life, the total amount of high-level spent fuel generated just for you would weigh about 2 kilograms (roughly the size of a standard brick).
Of that brick, only about 5 grams is actual highly radioactive fission byproduct—the rest is reusable uranium.
[20/5/2026 12:28 pm] Jun Ming: I think as long it is safe why not. Just need find another island to bury radioactive materials
[20/5/2026 12:29 pm] Jun Ming: Just don't affect the ecology can liao
[20/5/2026 12:33 pm] Jun Ming: Or maybe innovative solution in pulau semakau
[20/5/2026 1:50 pm] Nicholas: Should reconsider whether nuclear is the right path. Even if using it solely to support the country's energy consumption needs, enemies can use nuclear related activities as a pretext to say that Singapore is making nuclear weapons, and attack the country.
[20/5/2026 2:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢
[20/5/2026 2:54 pm] Khai Mun L.: We could use it as a threat too. It's a double-edge sword.
Bring ourselves to the negotiation table. One of the reasons why russia and china are not readily attacked
[20/5/2026 2:55 pm] Khai Mun L.: The next question would be where to build. Confirm residents would make noise that their property value would go down, plus any rumor that it would affect fertility rate etc
[20/5/2026 2:55 pm] Jun Ming: But Iran having trouble having it
[20/5/2026 2:57 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
"Oil stocks declining 'very fast', IEA chief warns.
"We have still several weeks but we should be aware of the fact that they're declining rapidly," said the head of the International Energy Agency, referring to commercial oil stocks."
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/oil-stocks-declining-iae-chief-middle-east-6128026#:~:text=Oil%20stocks%20declining,commercial%20oil%20stocks.
[20/5/2026 3:00 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
The current fuel supply situation very serious - the whole world oil stock only several weeks away.
And if the Middle East war not resolve, many countries will light out.
Hence depending on fuel flow - in long term is not sustainable.
We need to build our domestic energy production - and not be hold by our neck as many geopolitical disruptions occur on and off.
[20/5/2026 3:00 pm] Khai Mun L.: Iran went about it wrong way. North korea is another route, no one has attacked it. Cos it's confirmed have nuclear
[20/5/2026 3:05 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
1. Traditional nuclear fission nuclear reactor - has the capacity to enrich uranium until it reaches a stage whereby the enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear warheads.
2. SMR nuclear reactor won't be able to make enrich uranium for warheads.
3. So rouge states will not be able to make nuclear as excuse to attack us.
[20/5/2026 3:09 pm] Khai Mun L.: Have an idea, build the power plant next to those million dollar hdb. Can artificially drop the prices
[20/5/2026 3:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
4. Besides IAEA regular inspection will confirm our nuclear needs are strictly confined to energy production and not for weapons.
5. Hence not likely our nuclear reactors ambition solely for our energy needs can be misconstrued for nuclear weapons.
[20/5/2026 3:12 pm] Jun Ming: Build beside the bungalow
[20/5/2026 3:17 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
1. Actually, many recently advancement of nuclear technologies have improved by leaps and bounds - that make nuclear reactors safer and safer for energy needs.
2. As we discussed thorium based molten salt nuclear reactors that are safer than any other nuclear reactors discussed, another nuclear technology that is touted to be even safer arises - gas cooled nuclear reactors.
[20/5/2026 3:18 pm] G: Another stalwart business gone from SG
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/gardenia-shift-singapore-malaysia-retrenchment-6131521
[20/5/2026 3:18 pm] Khai Mun L.: Private properties are there for rich people to spend on. HDB should not be for investment purposes with such high prices, hence build next to them is more justifiable.
[20/5/2026 3:19 pm] G: Even better: build at ridout road.. I heard there quite sparsely populated so won't affect too many residents 😂
[20/5/2026 3:19 pm] G: Just straight up do their land acquisition act and buy over the land at ridout road for $1
Then we can do nuclear energy cheap cheap
[20/5/2026 3:29 pm] G: Another food source leaving SG. SG becoming less and less resilient for food security
[20/5/2026 3:30 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
3. The heightened safety lies in how the uranium fuel is stored. In a gas-cooled reactor, poppy seed-size uranium kernels are coated with layers of temperature-tolerant and protective carbon and ceramic materials.
Thousands of these kernels are then further sealed with carbon inside a sphere the size of a billiard ball. With the fission reaction contained in each kernel, it can be meltdown-proof.
Unlike other SMRs that are used to produce electricity, a high-temperature gas-cooled one can also produce industrial heat for processes such as district heating, hydrogen production and carbon emissions-intensive steel manufacturing.
Source:- Singapore newly install - CEO NUS Nuclear Institute.
[20/5/2026 3:37 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
4. China has one plant using such reactors operational in Shandong province since 2023, and it is building a second one – mainly for industrial heating – for the petrochemical sector. The US’ X-energy is building a similar reactor.
In April, SNRSI entered a partnership with Tsinghua University’s Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, which was the birthplace of the advanced reactor’s technology in China. The operational reactor in Shandong is a scaled-up version of a research reactor in Tsinghua.
[20/5/2026 3:40 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
5. Interestingly, no mention of nuclear radioactive waste to be discarded - as every nuclear reaction and byproduct are tightly contained within the kernel.
[20/5/2026 3:41 pm] Jun Ming: But it will accumulate after years. We need a comprehensive solution and not a problem for our next generation or the generation after
[20/5/2026 3:42 pm] Jun Ming: So before implementing the whole circle needs to be completed
[20/5/2026 3:43 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Understand.
That's why our nuclear professionals need to study them very carefully and proceed step by step.
Working closely with countries that installed them and working closely with IAEA.
That's why our PM and Ministers say it is a long shot 15 years project.
[20/5/2026 3:43 pm] Jun Ming: From source to discarding waste every step need to be settled before implementing
[20/5/2026 3:45 pm] Jun Ming: And safety. What happens if something fail? What happens there's a leakage? What happened if terrorist bomb the place
[20/5/2026 3:45 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Yes.
All these considerations need to be carefully studied and mitigated.
[20/5/2026 3:47 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
On hindsight, I think the location for even a very safe SMR nuclear reactors will be placed in offshore islands.
So if any accident happens, radiation will be contained in a small areas offshore and not come onto the mainland.
[20/5/2026 3:49 pm] Jun Ming: Hmm maybe pulau semakau is a good place to have it
[20/5/2026 3:51 pm] G: Want to build, must build at a place where if got nuclear fallout, the fallout will cross the border. So that neighbours will think twice before trying to sabotage since they will also kena the fallout
[20/5/2026 4:02 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢
[20/5/2026 4:29 pm] Andrew Goh: Not very keen on using nuclear energy as we are a small island. Any incident will be disastrous.
Not sure how it will work if the nuclear plant is very offshore/ faraway. But the effects might still be far reaching.
[20/5/2026 4:48 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Source:- Google AI
For Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), the likely radiation safe distance—often designated as the Exclusion Area Boundary (EAB)—typically ranges from 600 meters to 1,000 meters.
In the event of a severe accident, the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) for SMRs is often proposed to be shrunk to as little as 800 to 1,600 meters (1,000 feet to 1 mile), compared to the 10-mile radius required for traditional reactors. [1 (https://www.nuscalepower.com/exploring-smrs/smr-101/understanding-emergency-planning-zones), 2 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9517501/), 3 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149197022000038), 4 (https://www.ucs.org/resources/small-modular-reactors), 5 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9517501/)]
[20/5/2026 4:49 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Because SMRs generate significantly less thermal power and rely on inherent physics (like natural circulation and gravity for cooling rather than mechanical pumps), the likelihood and off-site consequences of severe accidents are expected to be much lower.
[20/5/2026 4:53 pm] Jun Ming: So it's 1km away from isolated place
[20/5/2026 4:53 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
SMR uranium pellets or thorium/ molten salt - is like the size of 20 cents coin.
Very small nuclear fission - but very high energy yield.
In theory, nuclear energy can supply 70% to 90% of our energy needs.
No worry if Hormuz straits block for years.
[20/5/2026 4:54 pm] Jun Ming: Does Singapore have the 1 km radius other than building offdhore in some abandon island
[20/5/2026 4:54 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Yes.
Some SMR place besides AI Data Center to drive the energy power needs - 1 km away only.
US many AI data centre drive by SMR nuclear reactors.
[20/5/2026 4:55 pm] Jun Ming: Don't think Singapore can build data center just besides nuclear
[20/5/2026 4:56 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Better to be in offshore islands to be safe.
Can even be on a floating barge if more kiasu far away from even our offshore islands - but build pipelines as energy grid to our main land.
[20/5/2026 4:57 pm] Jun Ming: So only southern part of sg can do so
[20/5/2026 4:57 pm] Jun Ming: Unless they make a treaty with Malaysia
[20/5/2026 4:58 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Can be east and west if we use floating barge - far away from any other countries.
[20/5/2026 4:58 pm] Jun Ming: But even if in offshore anything happens will also devastating. Because our rich marine biodiversity will be at stake
[20/5/2026 4:59 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Yes. Provided don't bomb the SMR.
I think normal accident are self contained as they are all sealed.
[20/5/2026 4:59 pm] Jun Ming: So the fish will be like Japan claim to be safe but no one dare to eat
[20/5/2026 4:59 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Now people still eat sushi and sashimi.
[20/5/2026 5:00 pm] Jun Ming: Cause people trust sfa
[20/5/2026 5:00 pm] Jun Ming: But you go to china not many people dare to eat Japan fish
[20/5/2026 5:01 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Source:- Google AI
Floating Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) on barges are rapidly emerging as mobile, offshore power plants designed to electrify remote coastal communities, power port operations, and supply massive energy needs for offshore industrial infrastructure like AI data centers. [1 (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/abs-approves-second-korean-floating-smr-plant-design), 2 (https://en.cnnc.com.cn/2025-02/14/c_1083920.htm), 3 (https://www.ship-technology.com/news/abs-approves-floating-small-modular-reactor-powered-power-module/), 4 (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/goodrich-fabre_a-floating-nuclear-reactor-just-got-approved-activity-7365458169105453057-_U0G), 5 (https://pressreleases.eagle.org/news/abs-publishes-ground-breaking-study-on-floating-nuclear-power-data-centers)]
Floating SMR power barges offer multiple strategic advantages over traditional land-based nuclear facilities:
Rapid Deployment: Because the reactor and safety systems are factory-manufactured and modularized, they can be tested on land before being installed on the barge, drastically shortening construction and commissioning times.
Relocatability: Unlike traditional plants, floating barges can be towed to different locations, making them highly versatile for temporary regional energy needs or emergency power generation.
Safety & Cooling: Being located on water provides a virtually unlimited heat sink for the reactor's emergency cooling systems. [1 (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/korean-floating-smr-design-certified), 2 (https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/voices/commentary-are-floating-nuclear-power-plants-option-coastal-regions-and-southeast-asia-4875051), 3 (https://power.nridigital.com/power_technology_mar18/floating_nuclear_power_in_the_south_china_sea), 4 (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/goodrich-fabre_a-floating-nuclear-reactor-just-got-approved-activity-7365458169105453057-_U0G)]
Global Industry Developments
Floating nuclear barges are gaining significant traction among maritime regulators and major shipbuilders: [1 (https://pressreleases.eagle.org/news/abs-approves-floating-offshore-nuclear-power-barge-from-hd-ksoe-and-kepco-eandc), 2 (https://pressreleases.eagle.org/news/abs-publishes-ground-breaking-study-on-floating-nuclear-power-data-centers), 3 (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/goodrich-fabre_a-floating-nuclear-reactor-just-got-approved-activity-7365458169105453057-_U0G)]
South Korea: Major shipbuilders like Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and HD Hyundai (HD KSOE) have received multiple Approvals in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for their floating SMR-powered platforms. These designs often utilize compartment-based modules that can easily house various types of SMRs.
Russia: Currently dominating this sector, Russia operates the Akademik Lomonosov, the world's first commercial floating nuclear power plant. Moored in the Arctic, the barge provides both electricity and heat. They are already developing next-generation floating units with higher capacities (up to 100 MW).
International Studies: Organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are actively holding symposia to address the safety, security, and safeguard regulations required for global deployment of floating nuclear plants. [1 (https://en.vneconomy.vn/vietnam-looks-for-stable-long-term-energy-solutions.htm), 2 (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/russias-floating-nuclear-power-plant-passes-one-billion-kwh), 3 (https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/floating-nuclear-power-plants-benefits-and-challenges-discussed-at-iaea-symposium), 4 (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/abs-approves-second-korean-floating-smr-plant-design), 5 (https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/korean-floating-smr-design-certified), 6 (https://www.ship-technology.com/news/abs-approves-floating-small-modular-reactor-powered-power-module/)]
Given Singapore's highly urbanized coastal landscape, floating SMRs represent a potential low-carbon alternative to diversify the nation's energy mix, though establishing the required international safeguard mechanisms and coastal infrastructure remains a critical requirement. [1 (https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/voices/commentary-are-floating-nuclear-power-plants-option-coastal-regions-and-southeast-asia-4875051)]
ABS Approves Floating Offshore Nuclear Power Barge from HD ...
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[20/5/2026 5:01 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
I saw China nationals in Singapore eating sushi and sashimi.
[20/5/2026 5:02 pm] Jun Ming: Because we have good food standard. They would not dare to eat in their mainland
[20/5/2026 5:02 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Hahaha....
[20/5/2026 5:03 pm] Jun Ming: But seriously maybe we can consider to collaborate with neighbouring countries on nuclear power
[20/5/2026 5:05 pm] Jun Ming: Maybe sg and Indonesia we build one between sg and batam and share the energy with each other
[20/5/2026 5:06 pm] Jun Ming: Where there's so many small Island in between
[20/5/2026 5:06 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Other countries won't want to partner us.
They also not stupid.
Risk they bear, benefits you reap.
Besides they can raise price they like, or stop supplying us.
Back to square one.
We need to achieve energy sovereignty through domestic production like water - newater, desalination plants and reservoirs.
[20/5/2026 5:07 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
If batam nuclear leak ?
[20/5/2026 5:07 pm] Jun Ming: Not in batam but a small Island in between
[20/5/2026 5:08 pm] Jun Ming: Where no one lives there
[20/5/2026 5:08 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Same risk if leak.
[20/5/2026 5:09 pm] Jun Ming: That's why a treaty like the rts is important
[20/5/2026 5:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
People can just disregard any sign agreement if they want to be nasty.
Water agreement sign can roti prata.
TPP sign can withdraw.
Tariffs can anyhow implement even with FTA signed.
What we need is energy sovereignty - no one can hold us by our neck.
[20/5/2026 5:13 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Also do you trust others operating nuclear in which we have no control or we operate ourselves in which we have full control?
[20/5/2026 5:18 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Size of uranium pellets and thorium.
https://babe118.blogspot.com/2026/05/size-of-uranium-pellets-and-thorium.html?m=0
[20/5/2026 5:19 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Only 20 cents coin size.
So small.
A pin in the sea of ocean.
[20/5/2026 5:25 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Look at the size of the gas cool nuclear reactor SMR uranium pellets.
And the protection cladding in it.
https://babe118.blogspot.com/2026/05/gas-cool-nuclear-reactor-smr-uranium.html?m=0
[20/5/2026 5:27 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
卖GIA啦。
Don't be scared lah.
[20/5/2026 5:36 pm] Jun Ming: We can build it 10km under the ground yeah
[20/5/2026 5:37 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Hahaha...
Whatever way possible.
[20/5/2026 5:38 pm] Jun Ming: Why must we build it above ground when we can build it under the ground with earth crust as a perfect cover and insulation
[20/5/2026 5:38 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Maybe government can consider your suggestion.
[20/5/2026 5:41 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
But usually sea water is the best coolant and dilution of nuclear radiation.
[20/5/2026 5:41 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Underground may have problem diverting seawater into it.
[20/5/2026 5:58 pm] Jun Ming: Underground underneath the sea lor
[20/5/2026 6:01 pm] LCL (Danny 心):
Hahaha...
I not nuclear science professional.
Government can consider and see whether workable or not.
Got leak, nuclear team got to go in to diffuse the leakage.
If radiation cannot be diffuse - it will be there for century.
Don't know, nuclear scientists should consider whether possible or not.
[20/5/2026 6:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢
[20/5/2026 6:02 pm] Khai Mun L.: Could consider building it near crowded. If got any incident can respond quickly. if offshore, would still need time to travel there and bring heavy equipment over.
Cos if others really want to attack, hard to prevent e.g. missile shoot at sg. No matter how far you build, it still has to be in sg territory. We so small in size, if got any radiation fallout, would get affected regardless.
[20/5/2026 6:45 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
[20/5/2026 6:59 pm] Jun Ming: No
[20/5/2026 6:59 pm] Jun Ming: This cannot be safety it's our first priority
[20/5/2026 7:00 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
====
After note:-
"Singapore emerging as potential regional leader in global fusion energy race".
Nuclear fusion - very little radioactive as compared to nuclear fission.
Hot plasma, generate heat, turn turbine and generate electricity.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-emerging-as-potential-regional-leader-in-global-fusion-energy-race#:~:text=Singapore%20emerging%20as%20potential%20regional%20leader%20in%20global%20fusion%20energy%20race
----
"World’s largest nuclear fusion firm partners A*STAR to develop commercial power plant tech".
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/worlds-largest-nuclear-fusion-firm-partners-astar-to-develop-commercial-power-plant-tech#:~:text=World%E2%80%99s%20largest%20nuclear%20fusion%20firm%20partners%20A*STAR%20to%20develop%20commercial%20power%20plant%20tech
----
Nuclear fusion fuses light atomic nuclei together to form a single, heavier nucleus. Because this combined nucleus is slightly lighter than the starting parts, the "missing" mass is converted into a tremendous amount of energy. [1, 2, 3]
The specific atoms being fused depend on the setting:
1. In the Sun and Stars
What fuses: Hydrogen nuclei (protons) are continually smashed together.
The result: They eventually undergo a multi-step chain reaction to fuse into Helium. [1, 2, 3, 4]
2. In Experimental Earth Reactors
Replicating stellar conditions on Earth requires temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius. Because achieving this is incredibly difficult, scientists use the easiest-to-fuse combination available: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
What fuses: Deuterium and Tritium (heavy, radioactive isotopes of the element Hydrogen).
The result: They fuse into Helium-4 (an alpha particle) and release a highly energetic neutron. [1, 2, 3, 4]
For more on the physics and current clean energy projects, visit the IAEA Nuclear Fusion Basics page. [1]
----
心法:
Source:- Google AI
Has nuclear fusion to generate electricity breakthrough?



+11

Significant scientific milestones have been achieved—including laboratory net energy gains where reactors produce more energy than goes into the initial reaction. However, a commercial breakthrough providing continuous electricity to the grid remains years away, as reactors cannot yet sustain the reactions long enough. [1, 2, 3]
Here is where fusion power stands today:
1. Scientific Milestones (The Breakthroughs)
Net Energy Gain: In late 2022, scientists at the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF) successfully produced more energy from a fusion reaction than the laser energy used to ignite it.
Yield Increases: Since that initial milestone, NIF has standardized the process, achieving higher yields—sometimes delivering over four times the energy required for ignition in single pulses.
Stability Records: Facilities like the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (operating the W7-X stellarator in Germany) have set records for magnetic confinement, successfully maintaining superheated plasma for minutes at a time. [1, 2, 3, 4]
2. Engineering & Commercial Roadblocks
Despite creating the reactions, major hurdles stand between current experiments and a working power plant: [1]
Sustaining the Reaction: NIF's method generates fusion in short, high-energy bursts, whereas a functional power plant requires continuous, sustained reactions.
Materials & Heat: Fusion creates conditions hotter than the center of the Sun. Engineers must develop reactor walls capable of withstanding this extreme heat and neutron bombardment over decades. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
3. The Shift to Commercial Development
Private Funding & Big Tech: Driven by the massive energy demands of artificial intelligence, tech giants are backing private fusion startups. For example, Helion Energy is aiming to deliver 50 megawatts of electricity directly to Microsoft data centers by 2029.
Public Utility Plans: In the public sector, Commonwealth Fusion is advancing plans to build a 400-megawatt fusion plant in Virginia. Meanwhile, the massive 34-nation ITER project in France continues construction as a stepping stone to large-scale grid contributions. [1, 2, 3, 4]
While the "holy grail" of net energy gain has been achieved in brief pulses, widespread commercial electricity from nuclear fusion is still anticipated to be a decade or more away. [1, 2, 3]
Nuclear Fusion Power
5 Jun 2025 — Fusion power offers the prospect of an almost inexhaustible source of energy for future generations, but it also presents so far unresolved engineering challeng...

World Nuclear Association
‘Breakthrough’ as fusion experiment generates excess energy for ...
13 Dec 2022 — Scientists have hailed a 'true breakthrough' as a fusion reaction has successfully generated more energy than was used to create it. For over seventy years, sci...


Imperial College London
Breakthrough in nuclear fusion energy announced - BBC
13 Dec 2022 — A major breakthrough has been announced by US scientists in the race to recreate nuclear fusion. Physicists have pursued the technology for decades as it promis...


BBC
Nuclear fusion: The science behind the energy technology, explained
12 Feb 2026 — Nuclear fusion breakthroughs ... Since 2022, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California has been pushing n...


The World Economic Forum
The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough - BBC
20 Apr 2026 — Proxima's "dumb machine" will be a stellarator called Alpha. It will draw on decades of work done by Germany's Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and its s...


BBC
Why the AI Industry Is Betting on a Fusion Energy Breakthrough - TIME
29 Oct 2025 — “You hope the hype doesn't get too much; [that] a failure of one of the more visible companies does not pull the plug on progress that we have elsewhere,” he sa...


Time Magazine
Understand Fusion
28 Aug 2025 — Significant breakthrough! NIF made history on December 5, 2022, by being the first and only facility in the world to achieve Qsci > 1. They used inertial confin...


Understand Energy Learning Hub
This company says nuclear fusion could finally power the grid - CNN
30 Apr 2026 — If it can successfully achieve net energy — producing more energy than what gets put in to run it — Commonwealth's next step is building a 400-megawatt fusion p...


CNN
Scientists May Have Solved Two of Fusion Energy's Biggest ...
17 May 2026 — Scientists May Have Solved Two of Fusion Energy's Biggest Problems at Once. By Zhao Weiwei, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences Ma...


SciTechDaily

1:54
After decades of research, scientists created the first lab-made fusion ...


Facebook·NOVA l PBS
Helion Energy wants to build fusion power on a start-up timeline
19 May 2026 — Helion Energy, one of the world's best-funded private fusion companies, is building what it calls Orion: a machine it says will become the world's first fusion ...


Scientific American
The fusion power race is heating up
8 May 2026 — What remains extremely hard is creating fusion reactions that can be sustained for a long time, and which give out more energy than they take to create — both e...


Financial Times
Nuclear fusion breakthrough promising but more research still needed
Nuclear fusion breakthrough: Decades of research are still needed before fusion can be used as clean energy. ... This article is republished from The Conversati...


Carleton University
Will nuclear fusion help solve our future energy needs?
23 May 2024 — Though, perhaps the most significant breakthrough was the achievement of a 'net energy gain' in a laboratory setting - this is where the energy produced by the ...


Greenly
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us data centre power by smr



+6

To fuel massive AI workloads and bypass overloaded grids, major US tech companies are investing billions to power hyperscale data centres with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These reactors generate carbon-free baseload electricity (50-300 MW per unit) and can be sited directly on or near data centre campuses. [1, 2, 3]
Why SMRs for Data Centres?
Unmatched Energy Density: AI hardware requires dense, continuous, and reliable 24/7 power that renewable energy sources like wind and solar cannot consistently provide alone.
Rapid Deployment: Unlike massive 1,000+ MW conventional reactors taking over a decade to construct, SMRs use factory-built modules that can be assembled and deployed in just 2 to 3 years.
Proximity to Compute: SMRs eliminate long-distance transmission losses by providing dedicated, on-site energy directly to the data centre campus. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Major Tech Commitments
Global hyperscalers are forging multibillion-dollar agreements with nuclear developers to secure a steady pipeline of nuclear energy: [1, 2]
Amazon: Partnered with advanced nuclear developer X-energy, rolling out their Xe-100 SMRs initially at a project in Washington State.
Google: Partnered with Kairos Power to purchase energy from their fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature advanced SMRs, aiming for 500 MW of capacity by 2035.
Deep Atomic: An SMR developer specifically designing small modular reactors for data centres, proposing new deployments near U.S. national laboratories like the INL.
Standard Power: Developing a massive 2 GW nuclear-powered data centre campus in Ohio that will be supported by multiple SMRs. [1, 2, 3]
Current Challenges
While the commercial rollout of SMR-powered data centres is expected by 2030, the sector still faces hurdles: [1]
Regulatory Hurdles: Even with accelerated federal support and designs certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, every new SMR requires strict environmental, safety, and security evaluations.
Supply Chain: Bottlenecks in sourcing High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) are challenging for some first-generation SMR designs. [1, 2, 3]
To track the progress of nuclear-powered cloud infrastructure, explore detailed feasibility and timeline insights via the Introl Blog SMR Implementation Guide or read about the broader AI energy challenge on the BNP Paribas US Data Centre Report.
Nuclear power for AI data centres
16 Dec 2024 — Following the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of NuScale's innovative SMR design in 2023, the outlook for SMRs was highly positive.


Bird & Bird
US AI data center power demand a multibillion-watt challenge
14 May 2025 — Nuclear power: No panacea for 2030 According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear power currently accounts for about 18.5% of US electricity produ...


BNP Paribas CIB
Deep Atomic launches SMR for data centres - World Nuclear News
25 Oct 2024 — The company is seeking partnerships with data centre operators and other investors "looking towards the future of sustainable digital infrastructure". Deep Atom...


World Nuclear News
Why Nuclear Power Is Most Viable Option for Data Centers
12 Mar 2026 — Why Nuclear Power Is Most Viable Option for Data Centers * AI Workloads Are Breaking The Grid. In 2023, U.S. data center electricity consumption reached 176 ter...


POWER Magazine
SMR developer Deep Atomic proposes nuclear-powered AI data ...
2 Dec 2025 — In addition, the partners claim that the MK-series architecture will allow for future expansion through the deployment of additional reactor modules and data ce...


Data Center Dynamics
SMR Nuclear Power for AI Data Centers | Introl Blog
24 Mar 2026 — SMR Nuclear Power for AI Data Centers: Feasibility and Implementation Timeline * SMR technology fundamentals for data center applications. Small Modular Reactor...
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My prompt:-
Is nuclear fusion commercially viable?
Source:- ChatGpt
Not yet—but it is getting closer.
Nuclear fusion is the process that powers the Sun. It combines light atomic nuclei (usually isotopes of hydrogen) into heavier nuclei, releasing enormous amounts of energy. Unlike conventional nuclear fission reactors, fusion produces no carbon emissions during operation and generates much less long-lived radioactive waste.
Current status
Scientists have achieved important milestones:
In 2022 and subsequent experiments, researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved "fusion ignition," where the fusion fuel released more energy than the laser energy delivered directly to the fuel capsule.
Several private companies and international projects are developing fusion power systems, including ITER, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Helion Energy, and TAE Technologies.
However, no fusion facility today generates electricity for the grid at a commercial scale.
Why is it so difficult?
Fusion requires:
Temperatures of roughly 100–150 million°C.
Stable confinement of extremely hot plasma using powerful magnetic fields or lasers.
Materials that can withstand intense neutron bombardment and heat.
Systems that can operate continuously and economically.
Producing a fusion reaction is no longer the main challenge; producing reliable, affordable electricity is.
Commercial viability: the key question
A fusion plant must:
Generate more electricity than the entire facility consumes.
Operate continuously with high reliability.
Produce electricity at a competitive cost compared with alternatives such as solar, wind, natural gas, and modern fission reactors.
Be buildable at reasonable capital cost.
None of these requirements has yet been demonstrated at full commercial scale.
Likely timeline
Most experts believe:
2030s: Possible demonstration plants that supply limited electricity to grids.
2040s: First commercial fusion plants, if current programs succeed.
2050s and beyond: Potential wider deployment.
Some private companies aim for earlier dates, but many energy analysts consider those schedules optimistic.
Advantages if successful
Virtually unlimited fuel supply from deuterium in seawater and lithium-derived tritium.
No greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
No risk of a runaway chain reaction like a fission reactor meltdown.
Smaller amounts of long-lived radioactive waste than conventional nuclear fission.
Bottom line
Fusion has been scientifically demonstrated, but it is not yet commercially viable. The remaining hurdles are engineering, reliability, and cost rather than basic physics. Many researchers think fusion could become an important energy source later this century, but it is unlikely to solve near-term energy and climate challenges over the next decade.
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REACH Portal - Nuclear Reactors deployment
21 May 2026
After careful study and exhaustive scouring through various AI information on nuclear reactor, SMR, fission, fusion, and if they are hit by bombs - the danger of radiation, I feel that the following infrastructure deployment for either SMR nuclear reactor - fission or fusion will be the safest for Singapore - being a small city state with little margin of errors as safety is paramount for Singaporeans and residents.
SMR nuclear reactors should be deployed in:-
1. Offshore islands preferable to meet the emergency radius of 1.6 km safety distance for SMR nuclear fission reactors (be it gas-cool, thorium-molten salt or uranium pellets).
2. Underground - organized in a honeycomb design - modularized, isolated - per comb, per nuclear reactor. Pse see diagram for reference.
So that if there is radioactive leakage - it is confined to that particular comb.
3. The offshore islands provide a buffer safety distance of 1.6 km - and in the event of leakage, the buffer distance will help in reaction time.
4. As gas-cool are using kernel plus multi-layer cladding to ensure nuclear fission to occur within protected kernel while allowing heat to generate electricity - leakage of radiation will be prevented.
Hence accident or leakages are very rare - in which deploying gas cool nuclear reactors underground will be safe due to the multi layer cladding protection from leakage or normal accident.
The need to rely on seawater as coolants and dilution - will rarely be needed - and hence need not be located on surface areas near the sea.
5. As modular honeycomb design per reactor are used, any leakage in one reactor will not affect the rest.
Also in underground, leakages will not harm population through radiation by air or sea.
6. However if offshore islands are not feasible - eg. Not sufficient underground space, underground soil too soft and not feasible for underground structure to house the nuclear reactors to be arranged in the honeycomb design - then alternative choice is to deploy in mainland underground or underneath Jurong island that have a larger surface area and harder underground soil.
6. I feel that offshore + underground deployment for nuclear reactors will allay the safety considerations concerning radiation leakage, terrorism or missiles attack in the event of war.
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