Generation IV reactor

Generation IV reactors (Gen IV) are a set of nuclear reactor designs currently being researched for commercial applications, with depending on the particular design, Technology readiness levels varying between the level requiring a demonstration, to economical competitive implementation. Most of these designs, with the exception of the BN-1200 reactor, are generally not expected to be available for commercial construction before 2030–40. Presently the majority of reactors in operation around the world are considered second generation reactor systems, as the vast majority of the first-generation systems were retired some time ago, and there are only a dozen or so Generation III reactors in operation (2014). Generation V reactors refer to reactors that are purely theoretical and are therefore not yet considered feasible in the short term, resulting in limited R&D funding.

Reactor types

Many reactor types were considered initially; however, the list was downsized to focus on the most promising technologies and those that could most likely meet the goals of the Gen IV initiative. Three systems are nominally thermal reactors and three are fast reactors. The Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is also being researched for potentially providing high quality process heat for hydrogen production. The fast reactors offer the possibility of burning actinides to further reduce waste and of being able to "breed more fuel" than they consume. These systems offer significant advances in sustainability, safety and reliability, economics, proliferation resistance (depending on perspective) and physical protection.

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Latest News for: generation iv

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Seychelles’ 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Sustainable Development Goals |24 March 2025

Nation 24 Mar 2025
(i) Identifying successes and challenges, (ii) Highlighting gaps and best practices, (iii) Mobilizing and fostering partnerships, (iv) Coordinating and strengthening government policies and ...
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Waterfront Park expansion will bridge a divide that has long plagued Louisville | Opinion

Courier Journal 20 Mar 2025
For 38 years, Waterfront Park has been dedicated to reclaiming our Ohio River waterfront for the community, reconnecting us with the river and ensuring that our waterfront remains an asset for future generations to enjoy ... Phase IV will change that.
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GS Power Partners secures $22M for community solar portfolio in N.Y. | Solar Financing Spotlight

Solar Builder 19 Mar 2025
A cross-border team of lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright represented Ecofin US Renewables Infrastructure Trust PLC on the sale of a portfolio of distributed solar generation projects in the United ...
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Fuel breakthrough paves way for cutting-edge nuclear reactor

New Atlas 18 Mar 2025
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has cleared a major hurdle in making a Generation IV nuclear reactor practical ... One class of these so-called Generation IV or Gen IV power plants is molten salt ...
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Texas A&M or Yale? How to pick 4 vs. 13 matchup in 2025 March Madness bracket

Sportingnews 17 Mar 2025
With a slew of talented scorers, A&M does not rely on one specific player to generate offense. However, when they need a bucket, Wade Taylor IV typically winds up with the ball ... Wade Taylor IV G, Sr.
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Nuclear power explored to forge clean steel in Europe with 200 MWe small reactors

Interesting Engineering 12 Mar 2025
Newcleo is working on the lead-cooled fast reactors technology for generating nuclear fission energy ... The Generation IV nuclear reactor aims to improve sustainability, safety, reliability, proliferation resistance, and performance.
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ViiV Healthcare continues to deliver long-acting injectable HIV innovation with late-breaking data and real-world insights across pipeline and portfolio at CROI 2025

Pharmiweb 10 Mar 2025
We’re also sharing early data from our transformative pipeline, including results from our third-generation integrase inhibitor and partner assets ... New findings from our next generation of INSTIs.
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