ClearPath Adds Business Analyst To Policy Team

Savita Bowman has joined ClearPath as a Policy Analyst. She will work across ClearPath’s clean energy technology portfolio, with a focus on energy storage, carbon capture, and direct air capture policies. Read more

Rich’s Take

“We are incredibly excited to have Savita join our policy team, where she brings a wealth of experience in scaling up clean energy innovation through engagement with policymakers, utilities, government, and private companies to bolster a clean energy future,” said Rich Powell, Executive Director of ClearPath.

DOE Invests $72 Million in Carbon Capture &
Direct Air Capture Technologies

This week, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy announced two carbon capture funding opportunities. They are awarding $51 million for a number of new power projects, including a new California natural gas power project with ION Clean Energy, and several industrial facilities. The Department also announced support for 18 direct air capture projects, such as GE’s "AIR2CO2" system and a University of Kentucky concept. Learn more about the announcement here and see the full list of projects selected here.

“Natrium” is Latin for Sodium, and Big for Advanced Nuclear

TerraPower and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) recently announced the launch of a new reactor and energy system architecture called Natrium. On September 14, ClearPath will host a webinar with experts from the two companies to release the design and explain how they intend to commercialize nuclear stations within the next 10 years. In their announcement, the TerraPower/GEH team stated the advanced nuclear technology will feature a cost-competitive sodium fast reactor combined with a molten salt energy storage system.

First Ever Small Modular Reactor Design from
NuScale Receives NRC Approval

Last week, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed the final phase of the Design Certification Application (DCA) for NuScale’s 50 megawatt small modular reactor (SMR). With this approval from the NRC, NuScale says customers can proceed with plans to build their reactor design. Read an analysis from Reuters’ Nuclear Energy Insider.

Rich’s Take

“NuScale has genuinely made a breakthrough for the advanced commercial nuclear sector. We applaud the NRC for staying nimble on this first of a kind design application and moving through the review and approval processes. Advanced technologies like NuScale are critical for nuclear innovation and will allow for America to maintain a competitive edge with China and Russia.”

Duke Energy Remains Committed to a Clean Energy Future

Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress filed their 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) this week, outlining multiple pathways to achieve varying levels of carbon reduction over the next 15 years, including for the first time – potential pathways to achieve up to 70% carbon emissions reduction with policy and technology advancements. Read more here, including quotes from ClearPath Founder Jay Faison and Executive Director Rich Powell.

World’s 1st Fossil-Free Hydrogen-Powered Steel Plant Begins Operation

On Monday, the world’s first fossil-free hydrogen-powered steel plant – located in northern Sweden – began operating. Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology, or HYBRIT, aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the steel industry by replacing coal with hydrogen in the steelmaking process. Read more

Save the Date: Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Open to All This Year

In 2010, a global forum, the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), was created to bring top energy officials of major economies together to share best practices and promote policies and programs that encourage and facilitate the transition to a global clean energy economy. As an online event this year, everyone will be able to participate! Stay tuned for more specific information on events and times, but most events will be scheduled during the week of September 14. Details will be available here.

In addition to general participation, ClearPath helped produce a report for Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy (NICE) Future, an initiative of the CEM’s flexible nuclear campaign.

During CEM, the Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment initiative , which brings more women into clean energy fields, will host an event. The event will feature U.S. DOE Secretary Dan Brouillette and Miss USA 2017 Kara McCullough – who will share her story of becoming a radio chemist and Miss USA. McCullough is an advocate for scholarships for women in STEM fields.

TRISO Fuel Approved for Use by NRC

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently approved a report to allow for the use of Tristructural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles by advanced reactors. The report, submitted in 2019 by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), was based on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Gas Reactor Fuel Development and Qualification (AGR) Program. Multiple companies, including BWXT and a partnership between Global Nuclear Fuel and X-Energy, intend to fabricate TRISO fuel for use in reactors. The mobile reactors developed through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Project Pele also will use TRISO fuel. Read more about TRISO fuel. Click here for more background and references to the EPRI report.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

E&E News: Energy package heads to the House floor

The House will take up broad energy legislation in September consisting of measures moved out of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Science, Space and Technology Committee, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced monday.

Washington Examiner: US must counteract China’s
rapidly increasing carbon emissions

Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell penned a joint op-ed in the Washington Examiner, highlighting the need to counter China’s environmental record and its growing global energy influence. Rep. Curtis and Rich wrote, “The U.S. should strengthen our competitive position in global energy markets and promote the development of more U.S. clean energy technologies (including nuclear and carbon capture) to reduce global emissions and develop economic opportunities.” Read the full op-ed

Integrated Energy Systems: Getting More From Our Nuclear Workhorses

Our power grid is changing. As renewable energy generation increases, our baseload electricity sources — like nuclear, coal and natural gas — are often being asked to operate in ways they weren’t designed. Take nuclear reactors for example, they were not originally designed in the United States to ramp up or down quickly due to the financial benefits of operating at maximum output. They were designed to run like a car cruising down the highway on cruise control. But with the changing demands and more solar and wind entering the grid, the reactors are now having to navigate stop and go traffic. Read our latest Energy 101: Integrated Energy Systems: Getting More From Our Nuclear Workhorses.

An integrated energy system can increase the flexibility of nuclear reactors while making such flexibility not only cost neutral, but revenue-generating. When nuclear reactors are producing more electricity than the grid needs, they can divert some of their thermal heat and/or electricity to produce materials for clean electricity, clean transportation, clean industry, and clean water. Doing so can provide additional revenue, allow for operational flexibility, and contribute to the growth of clean markets for deeper decarbonization – it’s a win-win. Read more

NEW VIDEO: ION Clean Energy, Charting a Path to Net-Zero

ION Clean Energy – a Colorado company – is working on an exciting iteration on a tried-and-true carbon capture process: “post-combustion solvent” carbon capture. This means capturing the carbon dioxide after the fuel is burned, with a liquid.

In the latest ClearPath video, Rich Powell explains how ION Clean Energy’s first commercial project could capture more than 4 million tons of carbon emissions each year, the equivalent of taking nearly a million cars off the road. He also describes how the Colorado start-up partnered with the Department of Energy to test and refine its “secret sauce.”

ION is demonstrating that there’s an increasing number of ways to capture carbon, while decreasing costs. We think that’s a winning recipe! Watch ClearPath’s latest whiteboard video on how ION Clean Energy is on a path to net-zero.

Watch the video

THE PATH AHEAD

September 10: The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is hosting an online event from 12:00pm – 1:15pm EDT on, “Growth with the Right Balance: The Future of the Federal Energy RD&D Budget,” featuring remarks from ClearPath Managing Director of Policy Jeremy Harrell. More details and registration information here

September 10: The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy will host a hearing at 1:30pm EDT on, “Biological research at the Department of Energy: Leveraging DOE’s unique capabilities to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic."

September 14: ClearPath will host an online event with TerraPower and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) to discuss their new reactor and energy system architecture called Natrium. Additional details forthcoming.

September 14-16: The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) will be an online public forum this year. Stay tuned for programming here.

September 17: Mark your calendar! During CEM, the Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment initiative will host an event from 2:00pm – 3:15pm ET and will feature Secretary Brouillette and Miss USA 2017 Kara McCullough.

September 21-25: Don’t miss the week-long celebration of clean energy innovation at National Clean Energy Week. Registration, sponsorship and schedule information can be found here.

October 6: The Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) will host a Virtual Public Forum on a regulatory framework for Fusion. More details and registration information here.