Since each modular DBI reactor is small compared to current state-of-the art reactors, installation, start-up and capital costs are much lower. The DBI Thorium reactor requires only tens of millions of dollars versus the billions of dollars necessary for conventional Gigawatt size reactors. It takes between 12-18 months for a new DBI reactor to be up and running. Compared to the 5-8 year timeframe for conventional Gigawatt size reactors, the DBI reactor’s shorter timeframe significantly reduces capital carrying costs while at the same time accelerates operational start-up and cash flow generation.
The DBI reactor’s reduced capital requirements and short construction times enable many smaller and specialized energy producers to choose a DBI reactor solution.
Current nuclear industry sources estimate that a new state-of-the-art 1.1 Gigawatt reactor costs from $2.5 billion to $6 billion. The interest carrying costs alone on a reactor this size is enough to build and run six or more DBI reactor modules. Furthermore, because it takes only 12-18 months to build and start-up a DBI reactor, the DBI reactors will be generating electricity and earning revenue for years before the traditional Gigawatt size reactor’s construction is complete.
