Backyard nuclear reactors

Mini nuclear power plants that can power up to 20,000 homes are close to becoming a reality. The devices are no larger than a garden shed and cost $25 million US dollars ($45 million NZD). They use a non-weapon grade low-enriched uranium fuel, are buried deep underground, and encased in concrete. All of which makes them very difficult to steal.

These 25 megawatt nuclear batteries have no moving parts (so no risk of a Chernobyl-like event) and are left in the ground for 5-10 years before they are dug up and refueled. Hyperion has already recieved over 6 years worth of orders, so look for these to come to a suburb near you. Except, of course, in New Zealand where a ban on nuclear power of all kinds still inhibits progress and makes us reliant on coal and gas technologies.

~A Puff of Logic~

(Notes: image retrieved from http://dvice.com/archives/2008/11/hyperion_starts.php)