How a sodium-cooled reactor with storage works

Liquid sodium carries heat out of a fast reactor at near-atmospheric pressure, hands it to molten salt, and the salt fills a hot tank. The turbine draws from the tank, so the plant can run at 345 MW steady or 500 MW at the evening peak. Every number comes from one model.

Sources: TerraPower, Natrium technology sheet (840 MWt, 345 MWe, 100–500 MWe for 5.5+ hours, ramps 10% a minute, heat above 500 °C); POWER Magazine, “Kemmerer 1 breaks ground” (June 2024); NRC construction permit review. Salt tank temperatures, tank sizes and the day's demand curve are illustrative. Others on this approach: Kairos Power, Oklo, Terrestrial Energy.