SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - China and Bill Gates discuss nuclear reactor plan

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China is set to start work on a novel design for a nuclear reactor with the help of a firm founded by Bill Gates.Terrapower, founded and funded by the Microsoft chairman, is collaborating with Chinese scientists on the fourth generation (4G) reactor.Research into the 4G reactor over the next five years could top $1bn, said Mr Gates.Developing such a reactor could take a long time because none have been built or tested yet.

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Disaster proof

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"The idea is to be very low cost, very safe and generate very little waste," said Mr Gates during a talk at China's Ministry of Science and Technology during which he confirmed the tie-up with Terrapower.He said talks between Terrapower and China's National Nuclear Corporation were still at a "early stage". The company has also talked to other nuclear nations such as India and Russia about its 4G research. Based in Washington state, Terrapower is working on a design for what is known as a travelling wave reactor. This uses depleted uranium as its power source and is believed to produce less nuclear waste than other designs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16085385

Note: 8 December 2011 Last updated at 11:19 GMT