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SuperFuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future
A riveting look at how an alternative source of energy is revoluntionising nuclear power, promising a safe and clean future for millions, and why thorium was sidelined at the height of the Cold War
In this groundbreaking account of an energy revolution in the making, award-winning science writer Richard Martin introduces us to thorium, a radioactive element and alternative nuclear fuel that is far safer, cleaner, and more abundant than uranium.
At the dawn of the Atomic Age, thorium and uranium seemed to be in close competition as the fuel of the future. Uranium, with its ability to undergo fission and produce explosive material for atomic weapons, won out over its more pacific sister element, relegating thorium to the dustbin of science.
Now, as we grapple with the perils of nuclear energy and rogue atomic weapons, and mankind confronts the specter of global climate change, thorium is re-emerging as the overlooked energy source as a small group of activists and outsiders is working, with the help of Silicon Valley investors, to build a thorium-power industry.
In the first book mainstream book to tackle these issues , Superfuel is a story of rediscovery of a long lost technology that has the power to transform the world's future, and the story of the pacifists, who were sidelined in favour of atomic weapon hawks, but who can wean us off our fossil-fuel addiction and avert the risk of nuclear meltdown for ever.
In this groundbreaking account of an energy revolution in the making, award-winning science writer Richard Martin introduces us to thorium, a radioactive element and alternative nuclear fuel that is far safer, cleaner, and more abundant than uranium.
At the dawn of the Atomic Age, thorium and uranium seemed to be in close competition as the fuel of the future. Uranium, with its ability to undergo fission and produce explosive material for atomic weapons, won out over its more pacific sister element, relegating thorium to the dustbin of science.
Now, as we grapple with the perils of nuclear energy and rogue atomic weapons, and mankind confronts the specter of global climate change, thorium is re-emerging as the overlooked energy source as a small group of activists and outsiders is working, with the help of Silicon Valley investors, to build a thorium-power industry.
In the first book mainstream book to tackle these issues , Superfuel is a story of rediscovery of a long lost technology that has the power to transform the world's future, and the story of the pacifists, who were sidelined in favour of atomic weapon hawks, but who can wean us off our fossil-fuel addiction and avert the risk of nuclear meltdown for ever.
262 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2012
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December 2, 2016
First off: this is not a bad book. The writing is decent and it's written with a purpose: to tell the story of the development (insofar as there was any) of thorium reactors. But if you want to know more about how thorium reactors work, this isn't the book to read. In fact, whenever things seem to be leading to technological aspects of thorium reactors, Martin becomes vague and changes the subject, which leads me to believe he doesn't know or understand anything about the technology.
This is a book about the history of thorium reactors - its origin, its loss versus the nowadays conventional uranium reactor. A great part of the book exists of quotes from people Martin interviewed, by which you can notice his writing experience comes primarily from being a journalist.
I personally think the book didn't need to be this long to tell everything he wanted to. Noting all this, SuperFuel isn't the best book I've ever read by far.
This is a book about the history of thorium reactors - its origin, its loss versus the nowadays conventional uranium reactor. A great part of the book exists of quotes from people Martin interviewed, by which you can notice his writing experience comes primarily from being a journalist.
I personally think the book didn't need to be this long to tell everything he wanted to. Noting all this, SuperFuel isn't the best book I've ever read by far.
March 8, 2016
Is there a solution to America’s energy problems? If you read this book you will surely believe so with the use of Thorium as the fuel to accomplish this. There is enough Thorium around to replace coal, oil, natural gas and uranium nuclear reactors. So, Thorium can produce enough electricity to power the United States for at least a century.
Currently, all U.S. Nuclear plants are fueled by Uranium. The way a Nuclear Reactor works is by firing neutrons into a Uranium isotope (U-235) nucleus; the nucleus absorbs the neutron, becomes unstable and splits immediately. When these U-235 atoms split they produce tremendous amounts of energy. This energy heats water into steam which turns a turbine which generates electricity. Thorium reactors can replace Uranium as the fuel for these types of nuclear reactors.
Why replace uranium? There are a few challenges with Uranium fueled reactors. First, Uranium ore contains just 0.7% fissile (capable of undergoing nuclear fission) material (named U-235). The remaining Uranium is called U-238. So you need to enrich uranium (by separating the U 235 from the U-238) to make it capable of fissile and that is expensive. Second, once uranium is refined the U-235 can be used to create nuclear weapons. Third, spent fuel is highly radioactive and needs to be stored.
The use of Thorium to produce power alleviates many of uranium’s problems. First, it requires no special enrichment process. Second, it produces far less waste than a uranium reactor. Third, Thorium’s waste must be sealed in radiation proof containers for only 3 centuries. That sounds like a lot but when compared to uranium’s ten thousand year storage requirements, it is miniscule. Fourth, you can use U-235 to make nuclear bombs. Thorium cannot be used to make bombs.
In addition, Uranium reactors produce 50 to 60 megawatts per kilogram of fuel while thorium based reactors produce 100 megawatts per kilogram of fuel.
The one drawback of using Thorium is that Thorium’s spent fuel is Uranium 233 (U-233) and plutonium. These decay into bismuth 212 and thallium 208 which emit very dangerous gamma rays. However the risk is somewhat mitigated due to the fact that there is much less spent fuel produced by Thorium and it can be recycled and used in new Thorium reactors.
This book also discusses the history of Nuclear energy, the politics of it, as well as the current push towards Thorium all over the world.
Currently, all U.S. Nuclear plants are fueled by Uranium. The way a Nuclear Reactor works is by firing neutrons into a Uranium isotope (U-235) nucleus; the nucleus absorbs the neutron, becomes unstable and splits immediately. When these U-235 atoms split they produce tremendous amounts of energy. This energy heats water into steam which turns a turbine which generates electricity. Thorium reactors can replace Uranium as the fuel for these types of nuclear reactors.
Why replace uranium? There are a few challenges with Uranium fueled reactors. First, Uranium ore contains just 0.7% fissile (capable of undergoing nuclear fission) material (named U-235). The remaining Uranium is called U-238. So you need to enrich uranium (by separating the U 235 from the U-238) to make it capable of fissile and that is expensive. Second, once uranium is refined the U-235 can be used to create nuclear weapons. Third, spent fuel is highly radioactive and needs to be stored.
The use of Thorium to produce power alleviates many of uranium’s problems. First, it requires no special enrichment process. Second, it produces far less waste than a uranium reactor. Third, Thorium’s waste must be sealed in radiation proof containers for only 3 centuries. That sounds like a lot but when compared to uranium’s ten thousand year storage requirements, it is miniscule. Fourth, you can use U-235 to make nuclear bombs. Thorium cannot be used to make bombs.
In addition, Uranium reactors produce 50 to 60 megawatts per kilogram of fuel while thorium based reactors produce 100 megawatts per kilogram of fuel.
The one drawback of using Thorium is that Thorium’s spent fuel is Uranium 233 (U-233) and plutonium. These decay into bismuth 212 and thallium 208 which emit very dangerous gamma rays. However the risk is somewhat mitigated due to the fact that there is much less spent fuel produced by Thorium and it can be recycled and used in new Thorium reactors.
This book also discusses the history of Nuclear energy, the politics of it, as well as the current push towards Thorium all over the world.
November 15, 2012
I'm a fan of history of science books, so this was at least a 3 before I opened it. Super Fuel fits into the Science Studies niche of explaining how social/political/personal interactions affected the direction of nuclear energy R&D in the U.S.
Martin (a writer for Wired magazine) begins the book by acknowledging that almost every article in Wired seems like a "this one thing will change the world!" article, but that really, he thinks thorium is a big deal. I was a bit nervous that he laid it out like this in the beginning. I didn't want to be convinced of an idea (especially since my extremely limited knowledge of nuclear physics and engineering would not allow me to be very skeptical of any scientific points or projections offered), but I was curious about the technology.
If you, like me, listen to enough NPR stories about the energy crisis and global warming to scare the bejeebus out of you, you pretty much feel hopeless and then start to cling to the hope that some smart scientists are working on a way to save us. Then you are overcome by skepticism that no one is actually working on a legitimate solution and then you go to the bar and have some drinks and feel better.
I digress. What I liked about this book is that although Martin states from the beginning that he is on the side of thorium power, the bulk of the book is merely presenting history and facts to bring us up to where we are and why we are in the position we're in today. By the end I was not convinced that thorium was a cure-all, but that it was an idea that was certainly worth exploring. In theory it seems like a safer alternative to uranium reactors. The biggest reason it didn't get off the ground was that it wasn't unstable enough to build a good bomb-- today that seems like a great kind of energy to have. There's also some interesting facts about the nuclear conundrum in our country. Atomic bombs and nuclear reactor meltdowns have made so many people virulently anti-nuclear that we do not devote any new research to making what we have safer and more efficient. While these are legitimate fears, we are actually less safe by not devoting resources to studying these issues and updating outdated (and potentially dangerous) technology. Of course the end of the book is all about how China and India have already caught this wave and are developing thorium reactors while we continue to grasp for oil.
Martin (a writer for Wired magazine) begins the book by acknowledging that almost every article in Wired seems like a "this one thing will change the world!" article, but that really, he thinks thorium is a big deal. I was a bit nervous that he laid it out like this in the beginning. I didn't want to be convinced of an idea (especially since my extremely limited knowledge of nuclear physics and engineering would not allow me to be very skeptical of any scientific points or projections offered), but I was curious about the technology.
If you, like me, listen to enough NPR stories about the energy crisis and global warming to scare the bejeebus out of you, you pretty much feel hopeless and then start to cling to the hope that some smart scientists are working on a way to save us. Then you are overcome by skepticism that no one is actually working on a legitimate solution and then you go to the bar and have some drinks and feel better.
I digress. What I liked about this book is that although Martin states from the beginning that he is on the side of thorium power, the bulk of the book is merely presenting history and facts to bring us up to where we are and why we are in the position we're in today. By the end I was not convinced that thorium was a cure-all, but that it was an idea that was certainly worth exploring. In theory it seems like a safer alternative to uranium reactors. The biggest reason it didn't get off the ground was that it wasn't unstable enough to build a good bomb-- today that seems like a great kind of energy to have. There's also some interesting facts about the nuclear conundrum in our country. Atomic bombs and nuclear reactor meltdowns have made so many people virulently anti-nuclear that we do not devote any new research to making what we have safer and more efficient. While these are legitimate fears, we are actually less safe by not devoting resources to studying these issues and updating outdated (and potentially dangerous) technology. Of course the end of the book is all about how China and India have already caught this wave and are developing thorium reactors while we continue to grasp for oil.
April 22, 2013
DNF. I have some background in reactor physics from college, and I wanted to learn more about how molten salt liquid fluoride reactors operate, what their pro's/cons are etc. Unfortunately this isn't the book for it. I didn't find his explanations of how the design works to be well introduced or clear. Much of the narrative focuses on the history of research in thorium which is mildly interesting, but not compelling. Finally he concludes with the further development of this technology in emerging nations like India and China.
Overall - it was ok. I really can't recommend it as a good book to someone who wants to learn more about this technology given the somewhat confusing presentation. A shame, since the technology does appear to be promising, and nuclear is probably the only arrow in our quiver that can supply carbon free energy with almost unlimited supply to scale.
Overall - it was ok. I really can't recommend it as a good book to someone who wants to learn more about this technology given the somewhat confusing presentation. A shame, since the technology does appear to be promising, and nuclear is probably the only arrow in our quiver that can supply carbon free energy with almost unlimited supply to scale.
September 25, 2013
What would we do if we could find a fuel that was abundant, clean, and safe? Unfortunately it seems we would shun its use for decades, largely so we could build nuclear submarines and increase our stockpile of nuclear weapons. The silvery-white metal thorium is number 90 on the periodic table of elements, two positions from its more famous cousin uranium. Of all the known energy sources on Earth, thorium is the most abundant, most readily available, cleanest, and safest element. Richard Martin tells the intriguing story of how thorium has been discounted as a nuclear fuel in favor of uranium and how it can become a green energy source for the future.
After President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his “Atoms for Peace” speech to the UN General Assembly on December 8, 1953, the United States launched the “Atoms for Peace” program intended to educate the American Public to the risks and opportunities of a nuclear future. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, originally established to produce plutonium for the first nuclear bomb, turned its attention to peaceful uses of atomic energy. Oak Ridge research on a thorium-based liquid core nuclear power plant, useful for generating electric power, is described in an obscure 945-page long engineering book published in 1958.
Thorium is about four times as abundant as uranium; the United States has about 440,000 tons of thorium reserves. Used properly, thorium is much safer and far cleaner than uranium. Thorium decays so slowly it can almost be considered stable; it’s not fissile (able to sustain a nuclear chain reaction on its own), but it is fertile, meaning that it can be converted into a fissile isotope of uranium, U-233. The thorium fuel cycle results in a smaller amount of nuclear waste and less hazardous waste than do today’s uranium-fueled reactors. Liquid fluoride thorium reactors (LFTRs) can act as breeders, producing as much fuel as they consume. Because a LFTR is inherently stable and the liquid fuels can be readily drained from the reactor core, a meltdown is physically impossible.
Martin summarizes: “Thorium could provide a clean and effectively limitless source of power while allaying all public concerns—weapons proliferation, radioactive pollution, toxic waste, and fuel that is both costly and complicated to process.”
The story unfolds in these chapters:
+ The Lost Book of Thorium Power—describing recent attention to the original thorium reactor work of the Oak Ridge Lab,
+ The Thunder Element—describing thorium’s various characteristics,
+ The Only Safe Reactor—detailing the operation, dangers, use, and costs of various reactor design options,
+ Rickover and Weinberg—describing the tension between atoms for war and atoms for peace that resulted in the development of nuclear submarines and nuclear weapons. First as research director and then as overall director of the Oak Ridge labs, Alvin Weinberg advocated development of a molten salt reactor fueled by thorium. Admiral Hyman Rickover favored conventional solid-core uranium-based light water reactors, which as a by-product produced plutonium that can be refined for nuclear weapons. Martin laments: “Uranium’s victory was a triumph of military uses of science and technology over humanistic ones, of the Pentagon over the scientific community, bureaucracy over individual initiative, technological stasis over inspiration and innovation.”
+ The Birth of Nuclear power—The nuclear submarine Nautilus was launched in 1954. In less than a decade Rickover built and launched ten nuclear subs, carrying the nuclear showdown to the most remote waters of the world. Yet the design for a Molten Salt Reactor fueled by thorium has remained dormant since 1959. The nuclear power industry would base their designs on the uranium-fueled reactors developed to power nuclear submarines and produce plutonium.
+ The End of Nuclear Power— Funding cuts to the Oak Ridge laboratory in 1957 eventually ended their promising research and experimentation with thorium-fueled reactors. The dangers of uranium-fueled reactors went on to make international headlines. The Three Mile Island accident was a partial meltdown which occurred on March 28, 1979. On April 26, 1986 an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere which then spread over much of western USSR and Europe. The Fukushima Nuclear Power plant, damaged by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, lost coolant, melted down, and released radioactive materials. The plant is not yet secured. No reactor ordered after 1973 was ever brought into operation the US.
+ The Asian Nuclear Power Race—India is the only country in the world with a detailed, funded, government-approved plan to base its nuclear power industry on thorium-fueled reactors. India plans to build as many as 62 (needlessly complex) nuclear reactors by 2025, and most of those reactors will be running on thorium. At a Shanghai scientific conference in February 2011 China officially announced that it will begin a program to develop a thorium-fueled molten salt reactor. The People’s Republic of China plans to develop and control intellectual property with regard to thorium for its own benefit.
Thorium ore is a byproduct of mining rare earth elements. Supplies of this ore are accumulating in China which now controls 97 percent of the rare earth market. In the United States the thorium ore must be disposed of as toxic waste.
+ Nuclear’ s Next Generation—The Generation IV International Forum is a collaboration of a dozen governments studying and recommending designs for advanced nuclear reactors. One of the six designs they are now considering is a thorium-fueled molten salt reactor.
+ The Business Crusade—Several business ventures around the world recognize the potential of thorium-based reactors. These ventures require funding approaching billions of dollars and time frames of many years, and they are often hampered by government regulations. Viable developments will probably require government partnering with private industry to sustain the substantial long-term effort required.
+ What We Must Do—Public perception of Nuclear energy options must shift, the public must perceive an accurate and objective assessment of the relative safety of nuclear energy when compared to alternatives, limited government support is necessary, and the transformation must draw on the competitive advantages of the United States. Government subsidies need to be shifted from supporting fossil fuels to supporting thorium LFTR development.
Martin is no Pollyanna, and he recognizes that thorium is no panacea. He does describe objections to the use of thorium. These include market barriers, difficulties with waste management and nuclear proliferation, and the traditionalist argument that “if it is so good it would already be in use”.
Martin is a science journalist and good storyteller. The book is written at an intermediate technical level. If you stayed awake during high school chemistry class you will be able to follow the technical details. In any case you will enjoy the many stories of misfortune, short sightedness, and folly that have conspired to prevent thorium from being used as a clean, safe, reliable, and abundant fuel.
A total energy solution will prevent global warming, reduce toxic waste and pollution, reduce energy costs, preserve our wilderness areas, increase safety, and disentangle our economy and foreign policy from oil. Perhaps thorium can become an important part of that energy solution. I am writing to my congressman and senators to ask their support for thorium-based energy solutions. I encourage you to do the same.
After President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his “Atoms for Peace” speech to the UN General Assembly on December 8, 1953, the United States launched the “Atoms for Peace” program intended to educate the American Public to the risks and opportunities of a nuclear future. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, originally established to produce plutonium for the first nuclear bomb, turned its attention to peaceful uses of atomic energy. Oak Ridge research on a thorium-based liquid core nuclear power plant, useful for generating electric power, is described in an obscure 945-page long engineering book published in 1958.
Thorium is about four times as abundant as uranium; the United States has about 440,000 tons of thorium reserves. Used properly, thorium is much safer and far cleaner than uranium. Thorium decays so slowly it can almost be considered stable; it’s not fissile (able to sustain a nuclear chain reaction on its own), but it is fertile, meaning that it can be converted into a fissile isotope of uranium, U-233. The thorium fuel cycle results in a smaller amount of nuclear waste and less hazardous waste than do today’s uranium-fueled reactors. Liquid fluoride thorium reactors (LFTRs) can act as breeders, producing as much fuel as they consume. Because a LFTR is inherently stable and the liquid fuels can be readily drained from the reactor core, a meltdown is physically impossible.
Martin summarizes: “Thorium could provide a clean and effectively limitless source of power while allaying all public concerns—weapons proliferation, radioactive pollution, toxic waste, and fuel that is both costly and complicated to process.”
The story unfolds in these chapters:
+ The Lost Book of Thorium Power—describing recent attention to the original thorium reactor work of the Oak Ridge Lab,
+ The Thunder Element—describing thorium’s various characteristics,
+ The Only Safe Reactor—detailing the operation, dangers, use, and costs of various reactor design options,
+ Rickover and Weinberg—describing the tension between atoms for war and atoms for peace that resulted in the development of nuclear submarines and nuclear weapons. First as research director and then as overall director of the Oak Ridge labs, Alvin Weinberg advocated development of a molten salt reactor fueled by thorium. Admiral Hyman Rickover favored conventional solid-core uranium-based light water reactors, which as a by-product produced plutonium that can be refined for nuclear weapons. Martin laments: “Uranium’s victory was a triumph of military uses of science and technology over humanistic ones, of the Pentagon over the scientific community, bureaucracy over individual initiative, technological stasis over inspiration and innovation.”
+ The Birth of Nuclear power—The nuclear submarine Nautilus was launched in 1954. In less than a decade Rickover built and launched ten nuclear subs, carrying the nuclear showdown to the most remote waters of the world. Yet the design for a Molten Salt Reactor fueled by thorium has remained dormant since 1959. The nuclear power industry would base their designs on the uranium-fueled reactors developed to power nuclear submarines and produce plutonium.
+ The End of Nuclear Power— Funding cuts to the Oak Ridge laboratory in 1957 eventually ended their promising research and experimentation with thorium-fueled reactors. The dangers of uranium-fueled reactors went on to make international headlines. The Three Mile Island accident was a partial meltdown which occurred on March 28, 1979. On April 26, 1986 an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere which then spread over much of western USSR and Europe. The Fukushima Nuclear Power plant, damaged by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, lost coolant, melted down, and released radioactive materials. The plant is not yet secured. No reactor ordered after 1973 was ever brought into operation the US.
+ The Asian Nuclear Power Race—India is the only country in the world with a detailed, funded, government-approved plan to base its nuclear power industry on thorium-fueled reactors. India plans to build as many as 62 (needlessly complex) nuclear reactors by 2025, and most of those reactors will be running on thorium. At a Shanghai scientific conference in February 2011 China officially announced that it will begin a program to develop a thorium-fueled molten salt reactor. The People’s Republic of China plans to develop and control intellectual property with regard to thorium for its own benefit.
Thorium ore is a byproduct of mining rare earth elements. Supplies of this ore are accumulating in China which now controls 97 percent of the rare earth market. In the United States the thorium ore must be disposed of as toxic waste.
+ Nuclear’ s Next Generation—The Generation IV International Forum is a collaboration of a dozen governments studying and recommending designs for advanced nuclear reactors. One of the six designs they are now considering is a thorium-fueled molten salt reactor.
+ The Business Crusade—Several business ventures around the world recognize the potential of thorium-based reactors. These ventures require funding approaching billions of dollars and time frames of many years, and they are often hampered by government regulations. Viable developments will probably require government partnering with private industry to sustain the substantial long-term effort required.
+ What We Must Do—Public perception of Nuclear energy options must shift, the public must perceive an accurate and objective assessment of the relative safety of nuclear energy when compared to alternatives, limited government support is necessary, and the transformation must draw on the competitive advantages of the United States. Government subsidies need to be shifted from supporting fossil fuels to supporting thorium LFTR development.
Martin is no Pollyanna, and he recognizes that thorium is no panacea. He does describe objections to the use of thorium. These include market barriers, difficulties with waste management and nuclear proliferation, and the traditionalist argument that “if it is so good it would already be in use”.
Martin is a science journalist and good storyteller. The book is written at an intermediate technical level. If you stayed awake during high school chemistry class you will be able to follow the technical details. In any case you will enjoy the many stories of misfortune, short sightedness, and folly that have conspired to prevent thorium from being used as a clean, safe, reliable, and abundant fuel.
A total energy solution will prevent global warming, reduce toxic waste and pollution, reduce energy costs, preserve our wilderness areas, increase safety, and disentangle our economy and foreign policy from oil. Perhaps thorium can become an important part of that energy solution. I am writing to my congressman and senators to ask their support for thorium-based energy solutions. I encourage you to do the same.
February 6, 2022
A great introduction into nuclear energy, thorium, molten salt reactors (MSRs) and liquid flouride thorium reactors (LFTRs). The book was easy to follow and while it can get technical in some chapters, its laid out in a way that's very understandable. If you're already familiar with LFTRs, MSRs and thorium (and Kirk Sorenson), the content won't be new to you but reading everything in a structured narrative was very enjoyable. Martin also goes into the history of nuclear energy, from the discovery of radioactivity (Marie Curie), to how we ended up pursuing U instead of Th despite Th and MSR technology being decades old (essentially, to end up with Plutonium for bomb-making). I loved that Martin discussed key players in nuclear power, such as Weinberg, Rickover and Sorenson -- as well as the role that giants such as India and China will have in this technology, and the problem with the conventional U light water reactors. Overall, I do think this book is an incredible source to raise awareness about how our perception of nuclear power is largely wrong and has been incredible politicised.
I do wish Martin went more in depth into the technical challenges that Th faced in the earlier decades though, such as the issues with metal corrosion. That would have been really interesting and would have probably balanced the book out a bit more. I also wish he went more into the mining process, which is a key part of the supply chain, and study the environmental impacts of that more. Although, perhaps he didn't acknowledge mining much as he mentioned that the US already has massive stockpiles of Th that went unused due to the proliferation of nuclear weaponry.
Thorium is:
- efficient (requires no specific refining unlike U-235)
- safe (walk-away proof MSR designs, no good for making nuclear weapons as it's fertile and not fissile)
- abundant (4x more than U)
- and mitigates the problem of nuclear waste (much more efficient consumption in reactors, ability to utilise nuclear waste).
It makes complete sense, and I'm truly excited to see us implement this incredible piece of technology in our transition away from fossil fuels.
Favourite pieces of info from the book:
- 1,500 metric tons (2% of our annual uranium consumption) would be needed to power the whole world.
- Reason why uranium is so inefficient (only 3-5% of fuel in spent) is due to noble gas build up such as xenon which damages fuel roads, resulting in U fuel rods requiring replacement.
- Th is 4x more abundant than Uranium. US geological survey estimates total Th reserves in US alone is around 440,000 tons (mostly in Montana and Idaho).
- Th nuclear waste is safer than U, as it requires 5 instead of just 1 neutron to become transuranic.
- Where you find Th, you likely find rare earth elements too.
- LTFRs can produce twice the amount of energy than conventional U light water reactors. A single ton of Th would produce 12.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity (based on 50% energy efficiency assumption) and 1,650 tons of Th could satisfy the electricity needs for the whole world in 1 yr.
I do wish Martin went more in depth into the technical challenges that Th faced in the earlier decades though, such as the issues with metal corrosion. That would have been really interesting and would have probably balanced the book out a bit more. I also wish he went more into the mining process, which is a key part of the supply chain, and study the environmental impacts of that more. Although, perhaps he didn't acknowledge mining much as he mentioned that the US already has massive stockpiles of Th that went unused due to the proliferation of nuclear weaponry.
Thorium is:
- efficient (requires no specific refining unlike U-235)
- safe (walk-away proof MSR designs, no good for making nuclear weapons as it's fertile and not fissile)
- abundant (4x more than U)
- and mitigates the problem of nuclear waste (much more efficient consumption in reactors, ability to utilise nuclear waste).
It makes complete sense, and I'm truly excited to see us implement this incredible piece of technology in our transition away from fossil fuels.
Favourite pieces of info from the book:
- 1,500 metric tons (2% of our annual uranium consumption) would be needed to power the whole world.
- Reason why uranium is so inefficient (only 3-5% of fuel in spent) is due to noble gas build up such as xenon which damages fuel roads, resulting in U fuel rods requiring replacement.
- Th is 4x more abundant than Uranium. US geological survey estimates total Th reserves in US alone is around 440,000 tons (mostly in Montana and Idaho).
- Th nuclear waste is safer than U, as it requires 5 instead of just 1 neutron to become transuranic.
- Where you find Th, you likely find rare earth elements too.
- LTFRs can produce twice the amount of energy than conventional U light water reactors. A single ton of Th would produce 12.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity (based on 50% energy efficiency assumption) and 1,650 tons of Th could satisfy the electricity needs for the whole world in 1 yr.
October 13, 2017
full review:
https://medium.com/@eric.hulburd/revi...
tl;dr;
SuperFuel was an easy and accessible read. The focus is more on the narrative of the US’s nuclear industry and, specifically, how a successful post-World War II molten salt thorium-fueled reactor met its moribund fate. Generally, when I read persuasive pieces such as this, my first reaction is one of skepticism. Surely there are some complications the author, overcome by enthusiasm, is brushing over. This, however, is precisely the reaction Martin singles out in the nuclear energy establishment and energy policymakers as the ultimate source of our present day nuclear energy conundrum....
https://medium.com/@eric.hulburd/revi...
tl;dr;
SuperFuel was an easy and accessible read. The focus is more on the narrative of the US’s nuclear industry and, specifically, how a successful post-World War II molten salt thorium-fueled reactor met its moribund fate. Generally, when I read persuasive pieces such as this, my first reaction is one of skepticism. Surely there are some complications the author, overcome by enthusiasm, is brushing over. This, however, is precisely the reaction Martin singles out in the nuclear energy establishment and energy policymakers as the ultimate source of our present day nuclear energy conundrum....
May 13, 2021
Dug a little too much into the people & history of nuclear, uranium and thorium for my liking, but provided some nice insight into creation and different types of reactors. Started to lose interest about half way through.
Now 9 years from when this book is written, it’s clear a nuclear sentiment shift has happened, and will be a major part in achieving carbon neutrality in the next 30 year. However, it doesn’t look like thorium is going to overtake uranium as the key fuel commodity.
Now 9 years from when this book is written, it’s clear a nuclear sentiment shift has happened, and will be a major part in achieving carbon neutrality in the next 30 year. However, it doesn’t look like thorium is going to overtake uranium as the key fuel commodity.
November 1, 2025
This is Not the Thorium book I was looking for... the author's a libiot pop-sci writer from OMNI/Wired error (a era)... and spend Most of the book talking about Nuclear Fission history (almost sans Thorium) I've learned much more from watching old Sorenson videos on what they learned of Oak Ridge history from 50's. Oh well, on to another Thorium book (when I'm ready).
December 13, 2025
Martin did a good job explaining the history of nuclear power in the Uited States and the world. However, I feel that he fell short in explaining the workings of atomic fission, the generation process, and the risks involved. I waned mor about thorium which I thought would be the star of this book.
October 31, 2018
Enjoyable and informative read. Written as more of an argumentative essay than objective analysis.
August 15, 2023
I hate Pressurised Water Reactors !!!! 🤮🤮🤮
July 11, 2013
WHAT THIS BOOK IS:
- Historical review. The most valuable thing about this book is the good historical overview that places thorium fission in context of the larger uranium fission development. That alone makes it worthwhile to read the book (though barely).
- Bombastic. Richard Martin leaves you in no doubt where he stands on the issues he raises.
- Accessible. Little specialized jargon, and he introduces and explains all important technical terms.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS NOT:
- Even-handed. Martin gives only a token effort to be fair-minded about opposing views. This book is cheerleading, pure and simple.
- Politically reasonable. Martin is an unrepentant Lefty, which oozes from his pores (and from his prose). I considered giving examples, but seriously, open to pretty much any random page and start reading. It is not hard to spot. The last few pages are literally laughable.
- Technical. This is not a compliment, by the way; a little more technical rigor and explanation of how things really work would have been a welcome addition. If you want to hear about thorium blankets in molten salts, this book will tell you about it. If you want to find out what exactly the thorium blanket is and how the said salts operate, you will need to look further afield.
If you're interested in thorium fission, this is a worthwhile book to read. It is not a difficult book, though if you're less than an enthusiast about thorium, I suspect you will find some parts rather dry. Martin's weak points -- his overt Leftist preaching and wacko-environmentalist bona fides -- actually end up being some of his greatest strengths. Martin may be a mindless Leftist politically, but he is not mindless scientifically. At his best, he takes a clear-eyed view of the realities of energy production, and his affiliation with the (it must be said) stupider side of the political divide actually enhance his believability when he cuts across the grain to be a solid supporter of -- gasp! -- nuclear fission in some form.
Highly recommended to those interested in thorium fission; marginally recommended (at best) to any without such interest.
- Historical review. The most valuable thing about this book is the good historical overview that places thorium fission in context of the larger uranium fission development. That alone makes it worthwhile to read the book (though barely).
- Bombastic. Richard Martin leaves you in no doubt where he stands on the issues he raises.
- Accessible. Little specialized jargon, and he introduces and explains all important technical terms.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS NOT:
- Even-handed. Martin gives only a token effort to be fair-minded about opposing views. This book is cheerleading, pure and simple.
- Politically reasonable. Martin is an unrepentant Lefty, which oozes from his pores (and from his prose). I considered giving examples, but seriously, open to pretty much any random page and start reading. It is not hard to spot. The last few pages are literally laughable.
- Technical. This is not a compliment, by the way; a little more technical rigor and explanation of how things really work would have been a welcome addition. If you want to hear about thorium blankets in molten salts, this book will tell you about it. If you want to find out what exactly the thorium blanket is and how the said salts operate, you will need to look further afield.
If you're interested in thorium fission, this is a worthwhile book to read. It is not a difficult book, though if you're less than an enthusiast about thorium, I suspect you will find some parts rather dry. Martin's weak points -- his overt Leftist preaching and wacko-environmentalist bona fides -- actually end up being some of his greatest strengths. Martin may be a mindless Leftist politically, but he is not mindless scientifically. At his best, he takes a clear-eyed view of the realities of energy production, and his affiliation with the (it must be said) stupider side of the political divide actually enhance his believability when he cuts across the grain to be a solid supporter of -- gasp! -- nuclear fission in some form.
Highly recommended to those interested in thorium fission; marginally recommended (at best) to any without such interest.
February 12, 2013
Richard Martin provides a rich, convoluted, yet clear history of the development of the American nuclear program, from its start in the Manhattan Project to today. An element unfamiliar to most audiences, thorium takes its place two pegs down from uranium on the periodic table, and is the focus of the book. Should its promise hold true, it has the potential to take a much more important place in world energy supplies and use.
This is not a technical book, though Martin does take the time to explain the general concept behind thorium reactions and plant designs that capitalize on its strengths as an energy source. There is more of it than uranium, for example, it is also easier and safer to control. For Americans interested in energy independence, they can take comfort in the knowledge that the US has plenty of thorium available on their own land.
The nuclear energy industry sprouted as a bastard child of the nuclear weapons program, with its origins in Fat Man and Little Boy followed closely by its use in submarine technology and aircraft carriers. But almost from the outset of the Manhattan Project, scientists and engineers were aware of the potential of nuclear power to transform our lives after the war. Martin reveals many of the major players in the early and latter day history of nuclear power, with the battles between dove Alvin Weinberg and hawk Hyman Rickover a focal point in the book.
Martin writes about a technical subject as a history, and does so for the benefit of a general audience. He is clear from the outset that he is a proponent of the technology, but thankfully takes the time to discuss opposing views. The nuclear power industry rates rather poorly among most demographics, after all. Sadly, much of it deserved; I don't deny I personally have a skepticism about industry practices, and probably read more anti- than pro-nuclear articles. That said, we already use nuclear plants, and thorium may indeed prove to be a better way to go in future. I think it wise to investigate it further, rather than dismiss it out of hand.
This is not a technical book, though Martin does take the time to explain the general concept behind thorium reactions and plant designs that capitalize on its strengths as an energy source. There is more of it than uranium, for example, it is also easier and safer to control. For Americans interested in energy independence, they can take comfort in the knowledge that the US has plenty of thorium available on their own land.
The nuclear energy industry sprouted as a bastard child of the nuclear weapons program, with its origins in Fat Man and Little Boy followed closely by its use in submarine technology and aircraft carriers. But almost from the outset of the Manhattan Project, scientists and engineers were aware of the potential of nuclear power to transform our lives after the war. Martin reveals many of the major players in the early and latter day history of nuclear power, with the battles between dove Alvin Weinberg and hawk Hyman Rickover a focal point in the book.
Martin writes about a technical subject as a history, and does so for the benefit of a general audience. He is clear from the outset that he is a proponent of the technology, but thankfully takes the time to discuss opposing views. The nuclear power industry rates rather poorly among most demographics, after all. Sadly, much of it deserved; I don't deny I personally have a skepticism about industry practices, and probably read more anti- than pro-nuclear articles. That said, we already use nuclear plants, and thorium may indeed prove to be a better way to go in future. I think it wise to investigate it further, rather than dismiss it out of hand.
December 17, 2012
If you read only one book this year about thorium-powered nuclear energy ... well ... you'll have read as many as I have.
I'm certainly no expert when it comes to nuclear energy. But I do love science, and I found Richard Martin's "Superfuel" to be a fascinating read, one which I highly recommend.
As the US population increases, so too will our consumption of energy. Where will this energy come from? We'll need to utilize several sources, and Richard Martin hopes that thorium will be a major player.
"Superfuel" offers up a highly readable introduction to understanding the issues involved in deciding thorium's future as a fuel source.
What is thorium? If it's so terrific, why aren't we already using it? Can nuclear energy ever be 'safe'? How do reactors work, anyway? How is thorium different from uranium? How can we deal with nuclear waste? What should be the role of the government in the research and production of nuclear energy? What role should the business sector play? Or the scientific community? What about the military? In the course of his 240 page book, Martin addresses these issues and more.
He also presents the major figures who brought us to where American nuclear energy is today and the scientists, businesses, and nations who want to determine our future.
Nuclear energy plays a major role in our lives: it fuels cities, battles disease, and (of course) has military applications. The future of nuclear power in America will be determined by someone. Hopefully a concerned and informed citizenry will take part in that process.
If this subject sounds at all interesting to you, then I urge you to pick up a copy of Richard Martin's book.
I received a copy of this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program. I was not required to write a review.
I'm certainly no expert when it comes to nuclear energy. But I do love science, and I found Richard Martin's "Superfuel" to be a fascinating read, one which I highly recommend.
As the US population increases, so too will our consumption of energy. Where will this energy come from? We'll need to utilize several sources, and Richard Martin hopes that thorium will be a major player.
"Superfuel" offers up a highly readable introduction to understanding the issues involved in deciding thorium's future as a fuel source.
What is thorium? If it's so terrific, why aren't we already using it? Can nuclear energy ever be 'safe'? How do reactors work, anyway? How is thorium different from uranium? How can we deal with nuclear waste? What should be the role of the government in the research and production of nuclear energy? What role should the business sector play? Or the scientific community? What about the military? In the course of his 240 page book, Martin addresses these issues and more.
He also presents the major figures who brought us to where American nuclear energy is today and the scientists, businesses, and nations who want to determine our future.
Nuclear energy plays a major role in our lives: it fuels cities, battles disease, and (of course) has military applications. The future of nuclear power in America will be determined by someone. Hopefully a concerned and informed citizenry will take part in that process.
If this subject sounds at all interesting to you, then I urge you to pick up a copy of Richard Martin's book.
I received a copy of this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program. I was not required to write a review.
January 5, 2016
I was very tempted to give this an extra star for focusing many of its pages on Kirk Sorensen, who is from northern Utah and thus whom I am very likely (distantly) related to. This is the first book I've read on Thorium power generation, and it seems like a good introduction although it's aimed for someone a little less nuclear-technology-aware than myself. It's a bit of a cheerleading exercise to motivate the public to feel much better about Thorium and pressure our lawmakers to fall in line with developing this technology further. The short version is that Thorium power is the BetaMax to Uranium's VHS: it's a better technology but lost the mainstream battle because the military dominated the early days of nuclear technology and could use Uranium reactors to generate bomb material.
The author is a little short on detail; he repeatedly mentions that Thorium reactors could be produced in a factory and assembled onsite but not how much space they would take when assembled (or in pieces). He mentions that they can be used to recycle / reprocess spent Uranium fuel rods, reducing our existing stockpile of radioactive waste, but I wasn't totally clear about whether that involved breaking the spent rods up and introducing them into the liquid fuel, and what products come out as a result. A friend of mine suggested Thorium: Energy Cheaper Than Coal is better, so I will check that out and compare (eventually).
The author is a little short on detail; he repeatedly mentions that Thorium reactors could be produced in a factory and assembled onsite but not how much space they would take when assembled (or in pieces). He mentions that they can be used to recycle / reprocess spent Uranium fuel rods, reducing our existing stockpile of radioactive waste, but I wasn't totally clear about whether that involved breaking the spent rods up and introducing them into the liquid fuel, and what products come out as a result. A friend of mine suggested Thorium: Energy Cheaper Than Coal is better, so I will check that out and compare (eventually).
August 2, 2016
Molten salt reactors, specifically Liquid Flouride Thorium Reactors (LFTRs) are the answer to our future energy needs, global warming, and the problem of nuclear waste disposal. Thorium is a far safer alternative to uranium-based light water reactors, and is a much more efficient way to generate power from nuclear fission. Richard Martin documents the journey of how thorium held so much promise as the pre-eminent source of nuclear power at the start of the Atomic Age and how we got so badly off-track in the years that followed.
February 23, 2014
Superfuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future explores the history of the 90th element on the periodic table. The author provides a powerful case for using thorium as a superfuel. It was amazing to read about how many times this resource has been overlooked by scientists and others seeking sources of fuel. Although at times I felt the explanations were oversimplified, the author does a nice job explore the past, present, and potential future of thorium as a green energy source.
September 13, 2019
The great thing about reading this book is that one does not need to have a great understanding of the physics behind thorium nuclear reactors.
The book also makes it easy to understand why certain political choices have caused the wrong energy sector choices in the years after the second world war, and why it is so important that we are not blinded by only relying on renewable energy sources to combat the ongoing climate change.
The book also makes it easy to understand why certain political choices have caused the wrong energy sector choices in the years after the second world war, and why it is so important that we are not blinded by only relying on renewable energy sources to combat the ongoing climate change.
September 18, 2012
Unabashedly pro-thorium, pro-LFTR propaganda by a former Wired writer who jokes that at the magazine every article had to have the word revolutionary in it, and then calls thorium "revolutionary." Still, if you like reading about science and technology, it's fun, and it's a quick, light, well-explained introduction to the subject.
December 3, 2013
I like the lack of infrastructure in the USA argument and how other countries are posing to use, what is described as, a safer nuclear and carbon-free source of power (and possibly water.). Excellent play on the historical figures and the path the USA took emerging from WW2 as a military-industrial complex, too.
December 28, 2016
Fascinated by nuclear physics and how clean, safe nuclear power can fuel our energy demands into the future. This book cover a broad range of technical, political and financial issues that affect the use of Thorium as a power source and delves into the history of the nuclear reactors in the 20th century. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it from cover to cover.
July 1, 2012
Not terribly impressed by the writing style -- seemed to jump around a great deal, especially in discussing historical timelines and interactions. Well worth reading, however, as it is a very important topic and broader awareness needs to be raised.
April 1, 2013
Definitely worth a read. Fascinating history about Thorium based nuclear energy and why it never took hold around the world. The book provides a potential answer to the energy crisis and climate crisis our world faces. If only our governments had the will to make this happen.
January 29, 2015
Was a bit disappointed not sure why!
Think it would have been better written by a scientist.
The decay of the elements could have been written out rather than described or a red page would have been helpful
Think it would have been better written by a scientist.
The decay of the elements could have been written out rather than described or a red page would have been helpful
July 13, 2012
I'll only do it if everyone at the plant wears the little helmet with wings on it ~
February 1, 2013
Subject is very interesting, but unfortunately I really did not liked the style. Book is written by journalist in style more appropriate to magazines not books. Pity.
Want to read
June 26, 2023With nonrenewable sources of energy both harming the planet and running out, this book addresses a possible alternative of Thorium and its history.
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
February 6, 2015
A little dense and seemed padded in some areas; fluffed over some of the science in other areas. But overall, thought-provoking and interesting.
December 2, 2015
Intriguing.
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