BBS:      TELESC.NET.BR
Assunto:  China's miniature portable reactors
De:       Mike Powell
Data:     Fri, 1 May 2026 09:36:42 -0500
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 * Originally in: SF_Reality

'A power bank for the AI era': China begins testing miniature, truck-mounted 
10MW nuclear reactor designed to sustain massive data centers for decades 
without refueling while promising to make traditional dirty coal and diesel 
generators entirely obsolete

Date:
Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:35:00 +0000

Description:
Truck-mounted nuclear power bank enters testing as China explores portable 
reactors capable of running AI data centers.

FULL STORY
China is testing a nuclear
reactor small enough to ride on a truck, a project that scientists say could 
help solve the rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence 
systems. 

The South China Morning Post reports the reactor is the worlds first 10MW 
vehicle-mounted nuclear power unit, developed over several years and now 
moving toward real-world use. The output is enough to power a medium-sized AI 
data center, where uninterrupted electricity is essential.
                  
Servicing unavailable or unreliable grid areas Wu Yican,
chief scientific adviser to the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology 
at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, told Science and Technology Daily,
"The nuclear power bank we proposed exemplifies the new generation of
nuclear energy systems. This technology offers exceptional safety in a 
remarkably compact size and an operational lifespan of decades without 
recharging.

"Mobility is central to the concept, since the reactor can be transported by
truck to areas where traditional grid connections are unavailable or 
unreliable. 

"It offers a solution to battery anxiety in different applications, including
providing power for remote regions and islands, delivering emergency backup 
power in special environments, propelling ships, powering space systems and 
supporting AI computing and data centers," Wu said.

He explained next-generation nuclear systems should be built around safety 
and adaptability. They should be approachable, flexible and intelligent, 
enabling them to meet the futures diverse energy needs, Wu said.

Interest in portable nuclear systems is increasing as AI computing continues 
expanding, pushing power requirements far beyond what many existing grids 
were built to handle. 

 SCMP says China currently operates 59 commercial nuclear units producing 
467.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, accounting for 4.82 percent of 
national demand and placing it second globally behind the United States. 

Tech companies have been moving toward nuclear power as data center 
electricity demand keeps climbing.

 Amazon plans to develop 12 small modular nuclear reactors with nearly 1GW of 
combined output, while Google is building a small reactor in Tennessee to 
supply its facilities. Amazon, Meta, Google , and Microsoft have all joined 
the World Nuclear Association. 

 Microsoft has also pushed into legacy infrastructure, with involvement in 
restarting the Three Mile Island nuclear plant , while smaller systems such 
as Westinghouses eVinci microreactor are being developed to deliver about 5MW 
for up to 100 months without refueling. 

Wu also discussed nuclear technology beyond power generation, noting its 
growing role in medicine where radioactive molecules are used to evaluate 
bodily functions and diagnose and treat diseases including cancer. 

More than 5 million people in China are diagnosed with cancer each year, 
which adds pressure to expand medical tools that rely on nuclear research and 
production capacity. 

If nuclear technology could help improve treatments it could bring 
immeasurable social and economic value, Wu said.

Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/a-power-bank-for-the-ai-era-china-begins-testing
-miniature-truck-mounted-10mw-nuclear-reactor-designed-to-sustain-massive-data
-centers-for-decades-without-refueling-while-promising-to-make-traditional-dir
ty-coal-and-diesel-generators-entirely-obsolete

$$
--- MultiMail/DOS
 * Origin: Capitol City Hub (1:2320/105)

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