Clean Core Thorium Energy and the Role of Nuclear Power in the Low-carbon Transition

In the landscape of low carbon sources of energy, nuclear power stands out as an option that has generated increasing attention and capital investment. Since 2001, nuclear energy production has been in decline, though Clean Core Thorium Energy, led by Mehul Shah, is one of the companies that is bringing nuclear back to the forefront. Founded in 2017, Clean Core is a nascent player in an industry that has a poor reputation among investors. As Shah and his team think about building out the business, they must consider not only the typical competitive pressures of creating a new company but also the unique challenges of nuclear power — safety, waste management, and cost overruns among them. On top of all this, in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine War, more conversations are happening than ever before about reducing the dependence on imported natural gas. In this case, students will learn about the global nuclear power industry, the major technological developments in nuclear power production that have enabled the recent interest in the space, and the sustainability implications. Students will analyze the market, political, and idiosyncratic factors that go into building a nuclear company, and calculate cost sensitivities.