Where Will the Money to Finance Development of Low Energy Nuclear Reaction Come From?

One thing about low energy nuclear reaction (LENR) is certain it will cost a fortune perhaps several fortunes to make it into a viable commercial energy source. My estimate is that it could several hundred million or perhaps $1 billion US (€796 million Europe) to get this technology up and running in any sort of practical form. It will probably cost a lot more to practically apply it for uses such as cars, trains, planes, ships or generation of electricity.

Since governments don’t seem to have that kind of money anymore. Or only spend it through top down bureaucratic agencies that can be easily manipulated by cold fusion skeptics that want to stifle any sort of process. I imagine that money will have to come (at least initially) from the private sector. So who in the private sector has that kind of money and would they risk it on something like LENR. Far more people and organizations than you might think.

Rio Tinto's Oyu Tolgoi Copper Mine in Monogolia

Well first there are all the companies that spend big money on energy. One would think they would be interested in a new, cheaper, cleaner and more efficient source of energy. The giant mining company Rio Tinto (RIO) will be spending around $1 billion on a power plant for its $13 billion Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia. Rio Tinto is also planning to spend tens of millions of dollars on another power plant at Cape Lambert, Australia, to provide juice to copper mines nearby.

Giant mining companies such as Rio Tinto, Newmont Mining (NEM), Freeport McMoRan (FCX), Xstrata (XTA), BHP Billiton (BHP) and Vale (VALE) would definitely be customers for LENR. These organizations run massive high-tech, energy intensive operations in some of the world’s most remote locations. The mining industry has already had to cut back operations in Chile and Africa because of electricity shortages in those regions. Mining companies routinely spend $10 billion on projects so they certainly have the money.

Another possibility is Google (GOOG) which is investing almost $1 billion in all matter of energy projects. That includes solar panels, and wind farms. Google invested $280 million in Solar City a US company that installs photovoltaic solar panels on roofs. Google’s energy investments may seem to be charitable but they’re actually very self-serving. Google needs vast amounts of electricity to keep the gigantic servers that keep it on the web running.

Oil companies might be another potential customer because they run massive high-tech operations in remote locations. Exxon-Mobil recently signed a deal to drill for oil in the Arctic Sea in Russia. It might be interested in a cheaper means of keep the oil rigs warm such as Andrea Rossi’s ecat.

There are also individuals that might be interested in financing something like LENR. One billionaire Sidney Kimmel has already put up $5 million for LENR research at the University of Missouri. Others might be tempted as well.

Larry Ellison

Bill Gates for example has invested in a wide variety of hot fusion and fission energy projects. So has Amazon founder Jeffrey P. Bezos. Gates who thinks of himself as a benefactor of humanity would probably jump at a chance to invest in something that could greatly improve human life. Bill is also committed to giving away all of his money.Then there are some dark horses Elon Musk of PayPal, Space X and Tesla fame has invested hundreds of millions in his efforts to develop an electric car. Larry Ellison the man behind Oracle is probably the most egotistical man on the planet. Among other things he owns his own island and the world’s biggest yacht. It’s easy imagining Larry investing in his own source of energy. For you comic book geeks Elon and Larry were the two real life billionaires that appeared in Iron Man II with fictional billionaire Tony Stark.

Eike Batista

Finally there’s Eike Batista a Brazilian who has arrogantly set out to become the world’s richest man. He’s the richest guy in South America and his investments include gold mines and oil. Among his investments are plans to create a giant power plant in Chile. It’s easy to imagine Eike buying into something such as LENR which could help him obtain that dream.

So the truth is there are lots of companies and people that could profit from LENR. Once it’s proved practical they’ll jump in and the cash will follow. Cash then is the key to the success of Low Energy Nuclear Reaction. We just need to figure out how to bring this exciting technology to the attention of people with the money.

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