Blizzard
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- Dec 10, 2012
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I've read some articles about thorium as an alternative but I'm not sure how realistic it truly is. Seems almost too good to be true. If it were viable, I'd expect to see more discussion and R&D around the technology - maybe there is circles that matter (I clearly am not allowed to hang out in those circles). Scalability seems to be a major hurdle.I would like to see some advancement in the world of nuclear power....seems like the DOE is looking into it a bit. But, admittedly, I know little of this field.
"The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded USD36 million for 11 projects seeking to increase the use of nuclear power as a reliable source of clean energy and to limit the amount of radioactive waste produced from advanced reactors."
DOE funds for reducing advanced reactor wastes : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
Here's a very rose colored glasses article but it illustrates the "promise":
Destroying nuclear waste to create clean energy? It can be done
And here's the "don't hold your breath" counter article:
Don't believe the spin on thorium being a greener nuclear option
Pros and cons:
Thorium As Nuclear Fuel: the good and the bad
That said, China and India are probably doing the most research here with China supposedly bringing an experimental thorium reactor online any day.