New model diverts excess heat to adjust power output without slowing reactors

Representational image. Image credit: Kairos Power. Article by Neetika Walter. Interesting Engineering – October 27, 2026. Research article: Journal of Energy Resources Technology, Part A: Sustainable and Renewable Energy.

Researchers in the US have developed a modeling approach that could allow nuclear power plants to adjust electricity output to changing grid demand without repeatedly reducing reactor power. The system combines molten salt reactors with thermal energy storage, allowing excess heat to be stored when electricity demand is low and used to generate additional power when demand increases. Developed by researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF), the approach could help nuclear plants operate alongside solar and wind farms, whose electricity production changes with weather conditions and the time of day. […]

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