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A new solution to our global energy crisis may lie in a simple element few know –thorium
At the dawn of the atomic age, uranium and thorium were equally important as the element of choice in researching nuclear energy. Either one could have powered the world’s reactors. But it was uranium that won out, and thorium, which is far cleaner, safer, and more abundant than uranium, was relegated to the dustbin of science. With it went the possibility of creating a low risk nuclear energy source to power our planet. What might have happened had our scientists and our government, and the nuclear power industry invested the resources to develop this little known yet abundant element? Would we face a global energy crisis and the prospect of catastrophic climate change today? Why are countries around the world, including rising economic superpowers India and China, rushing to develop electricity from thorium while the United States, which studied thorium reactors extensively in the 1960s, plays catch up?
Now, as the world searches for cheap, non-carbon-emitting energy sources, thorium is reemerging as an overlooked solution. As one of the first energy experts to promote the development of thorium, award-winning science writer Richard Martin combines science, new historical research, and a gripping business narrative to tell the untold story of thorium power – and show how we can wean ourselves off our fossil-fuel addiction, deliver a safe energy source for a millennia, and avert the risk of nuclear meltdown.
At once a big think book and a science manifesto, SuperFuel challenges us to look back at what could have been different in history and forward to an energy revolution in the making. The most important science and technology book of the year, SuperFuel will change the discussion of our energy future.
“Makes the case that thorium, an abundant, safe element that cannot easily be turned into a weapon, should be fuelling our reactors instead of uranium…Martin is at his best when describing the human struggles of the cold-war era that spelled their…convincing.”—New Scientist
“Traces the history of nuclear power development. . . Recommended.”–Choice
"Richard Martin has done an exemplary job of exploring a technically demanding subject in a gripping narrative form. The implications of this subject could not be more vital — for oil prices, energy security, the chances of coping with climate change — and 'Superfuel' clearly and fairly spells out the reasons for both optimism and for caution. If every technical book were written in this clear and engaging a style, we'd all be a lot better informed! I am very glad to have read this book."—James Fallows, The Atlantic, author of China Airborne
"Bringing back to light a long-lost technology that should never have been lost, this fascinating and important biography of thorium also brings us a commodity that’s rare in discussions of energy and climate change: hope."— Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired
"Thorium is the younger sister to uranium, less volatile, slower to self-consume, and as many have contended without success, much better suited as a source of nuclear power than uranium. Superfuel by award-winning science writer Richard Martin tells the Cinderella story of thorium in a fast-paced, insider’s account. This short, well-written book is a must read for those interested in understanding thorium’s past and its potential to be a clean, renewable energy source for the future."— Cynthia Kelly, President Atomic Heritage Foundation
"Our future energy supplies rely upon hard choices. Richard Martin educates us on our troubled history with nuclear energy, and even more importantly, how to develop this essential source of 21st century clean energy. This is the type of book that can make a difference!" —John Hofmeister, author of Why We Hate the Oil Companies
“The story of the slightly radioactive element thorium, a much-touted alternative fuel for nuclear power plants. Abundant in the Earth’s crust, thorium has been used in various industrial processes since its discovery in 1828. Advocates, writes Martin, an award-winning journalist and senior research analyst for Pike Research, a clean energy firm, say the silver-gray element has another possible use: as a cheap, safe energy source with the potential to solve our power crisis.…A lucid overview of a still-developing chapter in the story of nuclear power.” –Kirkus Reviews
Introduction 1
1 The Lost Book of Thorium Power 9
2 The Thunder Element 33
3 The Only Safe Reactor 55
4 Rickover and Weinberg 81
5 The Birth of Nuclear Power 101
6 The End of Nuclear Power 121
7 The Asian Nuclear Power Race 143
8 Nuclear's Next Generation 167
9 The Business Crusade 193
10 What We Must Do 215
Acknowledgments 241
Notes 243
Index 257
Willis_Shirk
Posted June 22, 2012
This is a good read that unfortunately suffers from a few major flaws. I thought the author did a good job relating the history of of Alvin Weinberg's work and explaining the benefits of LFTRs but I was disappointed by his dismissal of that he calls the "nuclearati" who have provided us with the amazingly safe and efficient Gen I through Gen IV light water reactors. The author fails to even mention the so-called "nuclearati's" first successful U.S. commercial High Temperature Gas Cooled Thorium cycle reactor that went online at Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania in 1963 and operated until 1974, or the conversion of the nation's first commercial reactor at Shippingport into a Thorium-cycle LWR Breeder reactor in 1975. He also makes several errors of fact in a number of his technical descriptions of the operation of conventional uranium cycle LWR reactors. While still a very good read on the important topic of LFTRs, this book might have been a great read if the author had been less hostile toward those he condescendingly calls the"nuclearati.' Many of the technical errors could also have been avoided had consulted a few of them for some editing of technical details in his manuscript before it was submitted for publication.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Th232
Posted August 24, 2012
I'm a nuclear engineer. I thought I knew a lot about a wide range of nuclear technologies, including the Thorium fuel cycle. Well, I was right and I was wrong. I knew the theory from my nuclear engineering studies, but it was presented more like a more recent, fringe concept - "something someone once thought about" - instead of a real (and even better!) alternative to the Uranium and Plutonium fuel cycles. "Superfuel" tells the whole story: from Adam and Eve (in this case: Mme. & M. Curie) to the people, the military events, and the political decisions that caused the Thorium cycle to be shelved for decades. I can't decide whether there's a happy ending. Read the book, see for yourselves. Check the references if you are looking for more technical details.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CoeLadd
Posted June 25, 2012
Richard Martin has produced a provocative idea book, that is not understood in the Nuclear family. The fact that it worked for 26 years in Shippingport, PA is testament that it needs to be considered. EXCELON should look seriously at it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kozik
Posted August 22, 2012
I expected it to be much more on Thorium and not other misc. events going on in history. It was hard to stay motivated when reading this. Do not expect much on Thorium.
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Overview
A new solution to our global energy crisis may lie in a simple element few know –thorium
At the dawn of the atomic age, uranium and thorium were equally important as the element of choice in researching nuclear energy. Either one could have powered the world’s reactors. But it was uranium that won out, and thorium, which is far cleaner, safer, and more abundant than uranium, was relegated to the dustbin of science. With it went the possibility of creating a low risk nuclear ...