Friendly Compact Nuclear Power Generation for Nigerian Cities

Should the non-oil producing Nigerian States and municipalities be thinking of acquiring safe nuclear reactors like the Hyperion hydride reactor as a source of steady power generation?

Especially with the increase of our river based hydroelectric plants declining and the Hydrocarbon based power plants outputs bogged down with political and economic sabotage.

Even though nuclear energy cannot be classified as sustainable form of energy it is much cleaner,more efficient and produces C02 emissions compared to fossil fuel and hydrocarbon fueled power plants.

According to Hyperion Power Generation website this safer and self contained method Nuclear Power Generation is "...Often referred to as a “cartridge” reactor or “nuclear battery,” the Hyperion hydride reactor is self- regulating with no moving parts to break down or corrode. The inherent properties of uranium hydride serve as both fuel and moderator providing unparalleled safety among nuclear reactors.

Sealed at the factory, the module is not opened until it is time for the unit to be “refueled,” approximately every five years or so by the manufacturer. This containment, along with the strategy of completely burying the module at the operating site, protects against the possibility of human incompetence, or hostile tampering and proliferation..."

Kinetic Hydropower farms of the Coast of West Africa

Harnessing the energy from changes in ocean tide levels along the West African coast has the potential of providing the region with alternative electric power supply. Hydrocarbon, fossil Fuel Biomass and Solar based power stations cannot be completely be relied upon to meet the regions energy needs in the coming decade as our energy demand grow exponentially.

Verdant Power one of the leading companies in this technology says that "...In three phases, the RITE Project will test, demonstrate and deliver commercial electricity from an array of tidal-powered Free Flow™ Turbines. The Project is progressing from an initial demonstration array of six turbines to a complete arrangement of 100-300 turbines. At full capacity the project could generate up to 10 MW, enough to power nearly 8,000 New York homes..."

Siting such coastal hydro power farm must also be done with proper risk analysis to the commercial marine activities in the area as well as the marine ecosystem. The use of protective Stainless steel cages could be considered.

Photos courtesy of Scientific American and Google Earth