Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Micha Pawlitzki(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
clime
Image Credits:Micha Pawlitzki(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
security measures
Social
Space
startup
TikTok
transferral
Venture
More from TechCrunch
effect
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video recording
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Terrestrial Energy , a small nuclear startup , merged with an accomplishment company on Wednesday .
The North Carolina - base company is developing small modular nuclear reactor and require to sack up $ 280 million from the deal . Before the SPAC amalgamation , Terrestrial Energyhad arouse $ 94 million , grant to PitchBook . The combined entity expects to list on Nasdaq under the symbolisation IMSR .
The heart is a reference to Terrestrial Energy ’s flavour of low modular reactor ( SMR ) , which it calls an integral molten salt reactor . In such a machine , uranium fuel is commix with various salts , such as lithium fluoride or sodium fluoride , that serve to suspend the nuclear fuel and play as the reactor ’s master coolant .
Terrestrial Energy ’s nuclear reactor core is design to be exclusively replaced every seven years , in part to head off some of the problems to begin with molten salt reactor experience like corrosion . The reactor core includes not only the fuel and graphite modulators that regulate the speed of the fission reactions , but also the warmth exchangers and heart that keep the common salt cool and flowing .
The startup is targeting a scope of markets , including electrical superpower , datum center , and industrial covering that demand passion .
There are many extant proposal of marriage to build commercial - scale liquefied common salt nuclear reactor , but to date , none have been built . The basic technology was invented in the 1950s , but two experiments from that era wereplagued with problems .
Nuclear tycoon has obtain renewed care as electrification of buildings and transportation , couple with therapid ontogenesis of data centers , has sent electrical energy demand soaring .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Tech company have become increasingly concerned in the technology as a possible result to the electrical energy requirements of AI education and inference . Google , Meta , Amazon , andOpenAI ’s Sam Altmanhave all picked a horse in the slipstream to modernize forward-looking nuclear reactors .
Terrestrial Energy is n’t the first SMR inauguration to SPAC — the Altman - backed Oklo completedits dealin 2024 — and give current hype around atomic power , it ’s possible it wo n’t be the last .
