ENSA will be involved in the manufacturing of TerraPower’s Natrium reactor
ENSA (Equipos Nucleares S.A.), member of the Spanish Nuclear Forum, will participate in the manufacturing process of the reactor head of the first advanced Natrium® reactor, developed by the US company TerraPower.
“This work represents a tremendous opportunity for ENSA as it is the first reactor of this kind to be manufactured worldwide, following the highest quality standards in accordance with the most demanding and strict nuclear regulations”, the company explains in a press release.
ENSA has high international competitive capabilities and more than fifty years of experience as a manufacturer
ENSA’s high international competitive capabilities and its more than fifty years of experience as a manufacturer have been key to TerraPowers award decision. “A job of these characteristics requires an exhaustive sequence of engineering, supply-chain and manufacturing tasks, which covers from an in-depth design analysis of the most optimal manufacturing sequence to the supply of the materials required to execute planned work”, ENSA adds.
About Natrium® reactor
Natrium® is a Small Modular Reactor and represents a new concept for energy generation and storage. Its creators expect these nuclear units to generate electricity at half the cost of traditional reactors. It simplifies existing reactor types so far, as all non-nuclear equipment is placed in separate buildings, reducing installation complexity and cost. In addition, most of the plant components are manufactured to industrial standards, and the nuclear-grade concrete required will be reduced by 80% compared to current large reactors. Unlike the light-water reactors used in the United States, it operates with lower power and is one-third smaller than conventional units.
Bill Gates, a staunch supporter of nuclear energy
Since the early 2000s, Bill Gates has invested significant amounts of money into TerraPower, as the former Microsoft president has made it clear that he sees nuclear energy as an effective tool in the fight against climate change.
Bill Gates on Natrium®: “This next-generation nuclear plant is a big step towards safe, abundant, and carbon-free energy”
During the inauguration of the Natrium® construction launch, Bill Gates stated: “I’ve been waiting for this day for nearly 20 years. This next-generation nuclear power plant is a great step toward safe, abundant, and carbon-free energy”.
About ENSA
Recognized in the nuclear sector for the quality of its products and the high technology of its manufacturing processes, ENSA was founded in 1973 with the goal of meeting the demands of the Spanish civil nuclear program for manufacturing large nuclear components.
In its fifty years of existence, it has supplied equipment that operates with the required safety and reliability in nuclear power plants of multiple designs worldwide, meeting internationally recognized standards and the most demanding quality requirements.
ENSA currently participates in other large-scale international projects, such as the ITER nuclear fusion project where, in addition to manufacturing different sectors of the Tokamak, the Spanish company has developed all robotic and automated processes for welding and inspection in the joining of these sectors.
Cover image: ENSA
