Acclaimed Physicist And His Daughter Are Burying Tiny Nuclear Reactors A Mile Underground

Key Concepts

• Deep Borehole Reactor: A nuclear power design where a small reactor is placed one mile underground in a 30-inch diameter hole.
• Criticality: The state in which a nuclear reactor achieves a self-sustaining chain reaction.
• Closed-Loop System: A mechanism where steam is condensed and recycled back into the borehole, minimizing water consumption.
• Neutron-Absorbing Control Rods: Components used to regulate or stop the fission chain reaction within the reactor.
• 5% Enriched Uranium: The standard fuel concentration used in the reactor assemblies.

1. The Genesis of Deep Vision

The startup Deep Vision was founded by physicist Richard A. Muller (82) and his daughter, Elizabeth (Liz) Muller (47). Richard, a former UC Berkeley professor and MacArthur "Genius" Award recipient, provides the technical expertise, while Liz, a former international finance professional, serves as CEO. The company’s concept emerged from years of brainstorming during their regular hikes in Berkeley, California.

2. Technical Methodology and Design

The core innovation of Deep Vision is the simplification of nuclear power infrastructure:

• The Borehole: A 30-inch diameter hole is drilled one mile into the Earth.
• Pressure Management: By placing the reactor at such depths, the system utilizes the natural pressure of the water column (160 times atmospheric pressure) to replace the need for expensive, heavy-duty concrete and steel containment vessels.
• Power Generation: The reactor boils water at the bottom of the hole; the resulting steam travels up a separate pipe to drive a steam turbine.
• Capacity: Each borehole is designed to generate 15 megawatts (MW), sufficient to power 12,000 homes. A cluster of 70 boreholes could power a 1-gigawatt (GW) AI data center.
• Cost Efficiency: The company estimates a cost of approximately 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, largely due to the 80% reduction in traditional construction costs.

3. Operational Safety and Process

• Isolation: The radioactive zone is contained at the bottom of the borehole, ensuring that the steam reaching the surface is not radioactive.
• Activation: The reactor contains four standard 5% enriched uranium fuel assemblies. It is activated remotely by withdrawing neutron-absorbing control rods, which allows the fission chain reaction to commence.
• Test Site: The first test borehole is currently being drilled in Parsons, Kansas, at a former World War II munitions site.

4. Financials and Market Position

• Funding: Deep Vision has raised $122 million, reaching a $1 billion post-money valuation.
• Ownership: Liz Muller holds 19%, Richard Muller holds 10%, and Joe Lonsdale’s 8VC firm holds 8%.
• DOE Support: The company is one of 10 firms in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) reactor pilot program.
• Timeline: The company aims to begin commercial power sales by 2027, pending expedited licensing from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

5. Notable Quotes

• Richard A. Muller: "I would have an idea and she would have an idea." (Regarding their collaborative process).
• Richard A. Muller: "We are using the gravity of the water to give the reactor the same pressure." (Explaining the cost-saving physics).
• Richard A. Muller: "It's about the simplest reactor that could be conceived."
• Liz Muller: "Nuclear brings out big emotions on all sides." (Reflecting on her upbringing in an anti-nuclear environment).

6. Competitive Landscape

Deep Vision operates within a growing sector of DOE-backed nuclear startups, including:

• Oklo: Market cap of $8.3 billion; building at Idaho National Lab.
• Atomic Atomics: Raised $136 million; building at Idaho National Lab.
• Valer Atomics: Raised $150 million; Utah-based reactor.
• Kairos Power: Constructing a reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to power a Google data center.

Synthesis and Conclusion

Deep Vision represents a paradigm shift in nuclear energy by prioritizing simplicity and geological integration over traditional, massive infrastructure. By leveraging deep-earth pressure to eliminate the need for expensive containment structures, the Muellers aim to provide a cost-effective, scalable energy solution for high-demand sectors like AI data centers. While the company faces significant regulatory hurdles and the technical challenge of achieving criticality, their progress in the DOE pilot program and substantial private investment position them as a notable contender in the race to commercialize next-generation nuclear power.