Author name: Annita Selwyn

This week, the energy sector’s most compelling story isn’t about a flashy new invention—it’s about the resurrection of a decades-old technology poised to redefine nuclear power’s role in the clean energy transition. At the heart of this revival is pyroprocessing, an electrochemical method that recovers usable uranium and plutonium from spent nuclear fuel rods, transforming what was once considered hazardous waste into a valuable resource for next-generation reactors. The breakthrough isn’t just technical; it’s a policy and industrial awakening, spearheaded by companies like Oklo and backed by new commercial-scale facilities, that could finally unlock the circular economy for nuclear fuel in the United States.

A revolutionary leap in industrial metallurgy is set to disrupt the energy-intensive metal production sector. Element Zero, a pioneering green tech company, has commercialized a renewable-powered mineral processing platform that slashes energy use by 30–40% compared to conventional smelting. The technology, which operates at just 250–300°C, uses non-aqueous electrochemistry to convert iron ore—and eventually nickel, silicon, and other metals—into zero-carbon, high-purity metals. This breakthrough not only addresses the sector’s massive carbon footprint but also aligns with the urgent need for circular economy solutions in heavy industry.