Nuclear batteries belong to chemical energy storage

Could battery technology be used in nuclear power plants?

Duke Energy Corp. is currently looking into whether it’s feasible to use battery technology in nuclear plants to replace a diesel generator used for maintenance and potentially reduce the duration of maintenance outages. Additionally, energy storage has already been built with nuclear energy in mind.

Why are nuclear batteries useful?

Nuclear batteries are ideally suited to create resilience in various sectors of the economy. They provide a steady, dependable source of carbon-free electricity and heat that can be sited just where its output is needed, thus reducing the need for expensive and delicate energy transmission and storage infrastructure.

What is a nuclear battery?

The nuclear battery concept is a small-scale power plant that produces about 10 megawatts of power. It's so small that the whole power plant is built in a factory and fits within a standard container.

Could a nuclear battery outlast a lithium battery?

Scientists are creating tiny, long-lasting nuclear batteries using radiocarbon. These betavoltaic cells could outlast lithium ones and power devices for decades without charging, offering a safer, cleaner energy future. Imagine never charging your phone again or having a pacemaker that lasts a lifetime.

Should energy storage be built with nuclear energy?

Additionally, energy storage has already been built with nuclear energy in mind. Ludington Pumped Hydro Storage Plant was originally built to help baseload sources in Michigan, like nuclear plants, run efficiently during off-peak hours and make the electricity more dispatchable. “If you want to decarbonize the economy, nuclear is very important.

Are nuclear power plants 'nuclear batteries'?

The authors have dubbed these small power plants 'nuclear batteries'.