This is the first Bankable! podcast to showcase a university nuclear research laboratory, with an insightful conversation with Dr. Rusty Towell. Founded in 2015, Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Lab part of Abilene Christian University, and sponsored by Natura Resources, NEXT Lab is said to be building the first advanced university research reactor. https://acu.edu/research/next-lab/ 

Natura Resources' MSR-1 will be a 1MW next-generation molten salt research reactor, with its technology described by NEXTLab as essential to addressing the world’s need for energy, water and medical isotopes, while educating future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. https://www.naturaresources.com/ 

Recorded August 14th, this podcast showcases one of the 11 technologies selected by the USA’s Department of Energy Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, as announced August 12th. Natura Resources, alongside 10 advanced reactor technologies, will be supported by the DoE to streamline nuclear reactor testing in hopes of fast-tracking their commercial licensing. https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-initial-selections-new-reactor-pilot-program 

Why the interest? Well, if it all goes to plan, this research reactor could see its first deployment in 2026 … that’s next year … with a commercial facility sized to generate up to 100MW of electricity by 2030, far sooner than its European counterparts. Plus, it will be on track to supply the 5x multiple of electricity demand which the International Energy Agency envisages by 2030 to match AI and global computing Advancement. 

Subscribe to Bankable! on your favorite podcast platform. Get in contact with Fresco CleanTech Solutions to explore financing solutions for New Nuclear technology or projects. https://www.linkedin.com/company/frescocleantech.solutions

Enjoy the conversation. 

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All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

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This is the first Bankable! podcast to showcase the Ukrainian chapter of Women in Nuclear. https://win-ukraine.org.ua/home/, represented by:

🇺🇦 Margaryta Rayet, President of Women in Nuclear Ukraine

🇺🇦 Alona Zavorotnia, Engineer-Programmer at South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant; and

🇺🇦 Renata Iaresko, Founder & CEO of CommsTrue Agency.

With up to 55% of Ukrainian electricity needs reportedly met today by four nuclear power plants comprising 15 fission units generating 13.8MW of power, this nation has relied on nuclear power since 1977. Its fifth plant, at Chornobyl, is no longer operational with the site now hosting the nation’s Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility. 

The invasion of the country’s borders on February 24, 2023, disrupted global energy sources, spiked electricity prices and has since evoked a reckoning by many nations of Energy Security. 

The three guests in this episode not only showcase resilience but highlight how they envisage their nation playing a leading role in nuclear development — gigawatt and modular — by highlighting the value of collaboration in science and technology, without borders. “Nuclear, not just technology but an opportunity to invest in a better, safer, more inclusive future.”

And here’s a thought for consideration: SMRs in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/chernobyl/faqs.

References Cited During the Conversation: 

https://win-ukraine.org.ua/the-presentation-of-the-first-volume-of-the-book-voices-of-ukraine-took-place-in-vienna/

https://www.wins.org/wins-launches-vou2-in-kyiv/.

https://win-ukraine.org.ua/the-resilience-of-women-in-ukraines-nuclear-energy-sector/

https://win-ukraine.org.ua/exhibition-empowering-radiance/.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL_IoQB9NOuZc6xvUD-zt9eYc6pfn-SR3&feature=shared 

 “ …resilience not just a concept … we cannot pause our lives … we know exactly the price of this life.” 

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All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first Bankable! podcast to showcase a national laboratory. We meet Shannon Bragg-Sitton https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-bragg-sitton/ at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in the U.S.A https://inl.gov/.

Why the interest? Our guest explains how the INL, amongst others:

• offers an unbiased view on Technology Readiness Level of new nuclear reactor technology;
• demonstrates how heat generated in the fission process can be used to manufacture hydrogen which in turn is utilized to manufacture low-carbon fertilizer, synthetic fuels or even decarbonize fossil-fuel processes; and
• offers Q&A sessions to interested investors.

Essentially, making every Watt count, demonstrating additional revenue streams, ensuring cyber security awareness and enabling new nuclear to affordably meet consumer demand. 

A notable selection for first-of-a-kind experiments in INL’s DOME of micro reactors designed by Westinghouse and Radiant was highlighted in our conversation. A link to the Department of Energy’s press release is found at https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/energy-department-announces-first-microreactor-experiments-dome-test-bed.

Also notable is X-Energy’s and Dow Chemical’s ambition to decarbonize the chemicals industry. https://x-energy.com/media/news-releases/dow-and-x-energy-submit-construction-permit-application-to-the-us-nuclear-regulatory-commission-for-proposed-advanced-nuclear-project-in-texas; https://investors.dow.com/en/news/news-details/2025/Dow-and-X-energy-Submit-Construction-Permit-Application-to-the-U-S--Nuclear-Regulatory-Commission-for-Proposed-Advanced-Nuclear-Project-in-Texas/default.aspx.

NB: Please excuse the unintended background noise when the interviewer is speaking.

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All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

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This is the first Bankable! podcast to showcase nuclear fusion, released on the same date as the UK’s Industrial Strategy announcement which, “puts fusion energy at the heart of driving innovation, economic growth and energy security.” https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fusion-energy-powers-uks-industrial-strategy 

Why the interest? The International Atomic Energy Agency, describes fusion as a technology which can “generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fission and nearly four million times more energy than burning oil or coal.” https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-fusion 

Joe Milnes https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-milnes-860908179/ from the UK Atomic Energy Authority explains fusion and how it differs to fission plus gives us an insight into the UK’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production program (STEP; https://step.ukaea.uk), and how fusion could be the long-play for addressing energy poverty, enabling AI Advancement, Energy Security and Decarbonization.  

This conversation was recorded just a few days before STEP was awarded GBP 2.5 billion in the UK’s June 11th Spending Review. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-billion-for-world-first-prototype-fusion-energy-plant  

Notably, we learn in the conversation that there are between 10 to 20 commercial fusion technology developers which have raised between USD 5-10 billion to date. Hence, there is indeed private investment appetite for fusion and an opportunity for non-government entities to invest across the fusion energy supply chain. 

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All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

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This is the first Bankable! podcast to showcase AI Infrastructure.

Also referred to as an AI Stack, it is a collective noun for the hardware and software needed to create and run Artificial Intelligence applications. An example of hardware is the graphics or tensor processing chip, the GPU or TPU, with a cloud provider such as a hyperscaler being an example of software. A data center houses this infrastructure, with the electricity needed to power the process as a key AI Infrastructure component.

Why the interest? As set out in the International Energy Agency’s April report on Energy and AI, electricity consumption by data centers is projected to at least double between 2025 and 2030. The IEA highlights that “AI has the potential to transform the energy sector … [yet] there is no AI without energy.”  

Today, we meet the International Finance Corporation’s data center global sector lead for investments in emerging markets. As Obinna Isiadinso https://www.linkedin.com/in/obinnaisiadinso/ shares in his written posts, the world needs $6.7 trillion to fund the next generation of data centers.

Fresco CleanTech Solutions https://frescocleantech.solutions observes that not one nation’s infrastructure plan currently includes a doubling of energy sources within the next five years.  Hence, this is not just an investment opportunity but a paradigm shift in the global electricity consumption and generation requirements. 

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All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

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This is the first Bankable! podcast to showcase a use for new nuclear. Today, we meet a technology integrator aiming to produce sustainable fuels for hard-to-decarbonize industries, including aviation and maritime. 

Why the interest? Well, in addition to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s global aspirational to reduce CO2 emissions in international aviation by 5 per cent by 2030, the United Kingdom has, as of 2025, mandated that 2% of total UK jet fuel is decarbonized, increasing linearly to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040.

In a similar vein, the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation starts with 2% decarbonization in 2025, increasing to 70% in 2050.

And, as of April 11, 2025, the International Maritime Organization approved a draft framework aimed at achieving net-zero emissions in the shipping industry by 2050.

Hence, it seems vital to showcase CNF and its founders as a sustainable fuels pioneer.  

Visit https://frescocleantech.solutions/ for innovative financing solutions

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All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

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This is the inaugural episode in the Bankable! podcast. 

We meet a technology company decarbonizing the global chemicals industry by processing used plastic into circular chemicals. 

Why the interest? According to the International Energy Agency, the chemical sector is the largest industrial energy consumer and the third largest industry subsector of direct CO2 emissions. It is estimated the global chemical industry contributes no less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and remains on an increasing trajectory. 

Hence, it seems vital to showcase Encina https://www.encina.com/ and its founder as a decarbonization pioneer.  

Visit https://frescocleantech.solutions/ for innovative financing solutions.

Subscribe to Bankable! at https://frescocleantech.solutions/

All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast which showcases companies and individuals securing financing solutions to enable Decarbonization, AI Infrastructure and Energy Security.

Developed and produced by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, the financial consultancy, each episode features an innovator succinctly explaining why they, their business or technology warrants capital from development to equity and long-term debt.

Bankable! is not another podcast. It is the only conversation including New Nuclear alongside low-carbon and renewable energy sources. 

Fund raising in New Nuclear or Low-Carbon?

Join the conversation as a guest or nominate an energy transition pioneer! 

Subscribe to Bankable! at https://frescocleantech.solutions, watch via https://youtube.com/@frescocleantechsolutions and listen on the web via https://shows.acast.com/bankable or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Bankable! at https://frescocleantech.solutions/

All comments expressed on the show are strictly owned by the speaker and do not in any way represent a position held by Fresco CleanTech Solutions, unless advised otherwise.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.