Decouple

Doomberg, an independent energy analyst known for data-driven geopolitics and energy analysis, walks through how Europe’s energy base unraveled. He contrasts LNG and 1970s supply models, runs hard numeracy on Russian and global flows, and compares European choices to China and the US shale revolution. The conversation highlights policy tradeoffs, resilience vs efficiency, and geopolitical escalation risks.

Joe St. Julian, President of Nuclear at AtkinsRéalis and veteran nuclear megaproject leader, explains why Canada may be closer to a new CANDU build than it seems. He discusses leveraging Darlington replication to cut first-of-a-kind risk. Topics include Monarch and EC6 designs, licensing and code updates, export markets like Romania and Poland, and mobilizing a sustained Canadian industrial strategy.

Stephen Stapczynski, Bloomberg senior LNG correspondent who has tracked shadow fleets and geopolitics, explains the Ras Laffan drone strike and its shock to global gas markets. He narrates why Qatar dominates the field, why Iran lagged, how the Arctic Medigas attack changes shipping risk, and what route, insurance, and supply battles mean for Asia, Europe, and buyers like China.

Michael Seeley, a nuclear fuel expert known for deep technical explanations, walks through TRISO, UO2, metallic and cermet fuels. He discusses TRISO structure, fabrication costs and scaling challenges. He compares UO2’s thermal limits with metal fuel advantages, explores HALEU supply and reprocessing practicalities, and outlines economic and deployment hurdles for advanced fuel types.

Michael Seely, a fuel engineer who builds and optimizes nuclear reactor fuel, walks through how uranium dioxide pellets, zirconium cladding, and multi-layer assembly design keep fuel intact through years of fission. He covers enrichment economics, bespoke fuel geometries for different reactor types, the rise of accident-tolerant and LEU Plus fuels, and why HALEU production is costly and supply-constrained.

Rob Stewart, MIT-trained engineer specializing in steam generators and plant thermal-hydraulics, and James Krellenstein, developer focused on unlocking gigawatts from existing reactors, discuss why uprates could quickly add 6–10 GW using modern steam generators, secondary-side upgrades, and standardized side turbines. They cover why PWRs lagged, balance-of-plant bottlenecks, offsite standardized plants, and fast, repeatable delivery strategies.

Kyle Chan, author of High Capacity and former Princeton postdoc, maps how China builds AI inside different institutions. He discusses DeepSeek’s wake-up call, compute-efficiency tactics like quantization, and China’s Western-data/eastern-compute energy strategy. They explore AI embedded in manufacturing, logistics, grids and public services, plus regulatory controls and how state incentives shape deployment.

Ken Petrunik, a veteran Canadian nuclear project leader who delivered CANDU reactors worldwide, shares stories from Romania, China, Argentina and more. He recounts how Qinshan Phase III finished early and under budget. The conversation covers construction sequencing, on-site problem solving, team selection, decision authority, and what was lost as Canada's build capability faded.

Michael Seeley, the 'Atomic Blender' and insightful nuclear industry analyst, dives into the complex world of the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR). He discusses how the EPR's ambitious design, aimed at satisfying every regulatory requirement, led to construction chaos. The conversation reveals the differences between the EPR and other reactor designs, like the AP1000, focusing on their safety philosophies and build complexities. Michael also highlights why certain countries successfully executed their reactor projects despite challenges, offering a provocative look at the future of nuclear energy.

In a captivating discussion, Nick Touran, a nuclear historian and maritime expert, delves into the intriguing history of nuclear shipping. He explores why nuclear ships, despite their proven capabilities, remain niche. From the pioneering Nuclear Ship Savannah to the challenges faced by Japan’s Mutsu, Touran highlights regulatory hurdles, economic considerations, and public perception. He also showcases the potential of nuclear power in maritime logistics, discussing the complexities of operating reactors at sea and the future opportunities for floating power systems.