Fire2Fission Podcast Mark Hinaman

In this episode of the Fire2Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Michael Crabb, SVP Commercial at Last Energy. They discuss Last Energy's background and their mission to build, own, and operate micro nuclear power plants. Michael shares his experience in the energy industry and the challenges faced by the nuclear industry. They also talk about the importance of learning, collaboration, and competition in driving innovation and progress. The nuclear industry faces challenges, both logical and nefarious, but success depends on letting market results dictate winners. Data centers are a hot customer segment, especially with the addition of environmental targets. Other potential customers include mid-scale manufacturing industries that require their own gas CHP units. EV charging is challenging due to the need for baseload power and creditworthy counterparties. Building prototypes has taught valuable lessons in technical design and contract management. The US market faces economic and regulatory challenges, but there is momentum for change. Capital markets are increasingly interested in nuclear, and early deployment capital is crucial for project origination. The future should be an industry that fosters innovation and competition.

In this episode of the Fire2Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman and Ryan Pickering interview Heather Feldman, the director of training and development at EPRI. They discuss the Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation (GFNI) and the importance of innovation and education in the energy sector. Heather shares her background in mechanical engineering and her experience working on the space shuttle program. She explains how her time in the space industry prepared her for her role at EPRI and the importance of safety culture in both industries. The conversation also covers the three GFNI events and the focus on technology innovations, learning from organizations outside of energy, and creating a culture of innovation. Heather introduces the Ambition Into Action framework, which helps individuals and organizations turn ambitions into outcomes through specific actions and behaviors. The Global Forum on Nuclear Innovation is a transformative event that aims to accelerate the deployment of innovation in nuclear energy. It is a personal journey for participants, who gain insights and transform throughout the week. The forum focuses on technology innovations, culture, and turning ambition into action. The event has achieved its original vision of accelerating the deployment of innovation in nuclear energy. The future of nuclear energy includes collaboration, building a strong workforce, and having conversations to create positive change.

In this episode of the Fire2Fission Podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Lauren Thew, President of Bluestone Group, about her background in the nuclear industry and the role of technical staff augmentation in nuclear projects. They discuss the need for more young professionals in the industry and the importance of spreading awareness about nuclear power. Lauren emphasizes the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) and the need for government funding to support the development of nuclear projects. She encourages individuals to get involved by spreading the word about nuclear power and its benefits.

In this episode of the Fire to Fission podcast, Mark Hinaman interviews Martin Hjelmeland, a postdoc researcher in Norway. They discuss Martin's background in energy and environmental engineering, his work in hydropower scheduling, and his interest in nuclear energy. They also touch on Norway's nuclear history and the country's transition from oil and gas to nuclear. The conversation highlights the importance of energy system modeling and the potential role of nuclear power in a renewable energy system. The conversation explores the potential for nuclear energy in Norway and the challenges it faces. It discusses the need for understanding reservoir flow and injection locations, the success of tracer technology in enhancing oil production, and the importance of simulation software in the oil and gas industry. The conversation also touches on the changing sentiment towards nuclear energy in Norway, the controversy surrounding a report on nuclear energy, and the need for a more balanced approach to energy solutions. The ONS conference is mentioned as an opportunity to further discuss the topic.

Link to Martin’s research project on “Nuclear Energy’s role in a Renewable Energy System (NERES)”: https://www.ntnu.edu/iel/neres

In this episode of Fire2Fission, Mark Hinaman talks with Jeff Whitt from Framatome about the changing dynamics of nuclear energy. From his journey in the field to spearheading initiatives for the US government, Jeff sheds light on the pivotal role of nuclear power in environmental sustainability, the obstacles of innovation and talent acquisition, and the promising future of advanced reactor technologies.

Mark Hinaman talks with Craig Ranson from Framatome about the nuclear industry's past, present, and future. From robotics to reactor vessel examination and the challenges of expanding nuclear energy, Craig provides insights into Framatome's contributions and the industry's need for innovation and new talent.