Toshiba Micro Nuclear Reactor

This article describes a device whose existence has not been confirmed.

The Toshiba Micro Nuclear Reactor is a 200 kw nuclear reactor that is 20 feet long and 6 feet wide. The reactor is self sustaining, lasts for 40 years, and produces electricity for 5 cents per kwh. 1

Toshiba plans to start operating the first reactor in Japan in 2008, and plans to start marketing them in Europe and America in 2009. 2

The original story describing this device was broken in Next Energy News and rapidly picked up by technology journalists and the blogosphere. However, no web presence from Toshiba has yet been seen, and it is possible that this is a hoax.

See also Toshiba 4S

As of 12/27/07, Toshiba has confirmed that this is, indeed, a hoax. The pictures accompanying this article on many web sites are of their 10MW "4S" reactor system, the kind they're hoping to install in Galena, Alaska if they can get approval from the NRC and everybody else involved.