Europe's nuclear waste may provide energy for numerous decades, as indicated by this innovative company's intention to confirm this theory.
Thorizon's Molten Salt Reactor: Transforming Nuclear Waste into Energy
Thorizon, a Franco-Dutch startup, is developing a groundbreaking solution to Europe's nuclear waste problem. By creating a small modular molten salt reactor (MSR), the company aims to generate new energy from nuclear waste, making it a sustainable and valuable energy source^1^.
The idea of recycling nuclear waste to extract more energy and generate new fuel was explored in the 1960s and '70s, but was eventually phased out due to concerns about nuclear proliferation and economic factors^1^. Thorizon's MSR design, however, addresses these concerns by leveraging the properties of molten salt coolants and fuel mixtures[^3^].
Unlike conventional fast reactors that burn waste primarily in fast neutron spectrums, Thorizon's molten salt reactor operates in a thermal neutron spectrum made possible by substituting some uranium in the spent fuel with thorium[^3^]. This method reduces nuclear waste longevity from thousands of years to a few centuries and significantly increases the energy yield from the same amount of nuclear fuel^3^.
Thorizon's reactor design also aims to reduce the production of transuranic elements like plutonium and americium, which cause long-term waste storage challenges, without the proliferation risks or technical difficulties typical of fast reactors[^3^].
The company has recently raised €20 million to further develop this inherently safe molten salt reactor technology^4^. Kiki Lauwers, the CEO of Thorizon, stated that Europe's stockpiles of nuclear waste could power the entire region for 40 years, while in the US, scientists believe it could power their country for around 100 years[^2^].
Thorizon's MSR employs a cartridge system, where each steel cylinder contains a mix of spent fuel from traditional reactors and fresh thorium^1^. The company currently employs around 50 engineers split between Amsterdam and Lyon.
The Thorizon One reactor, expected to begin construction within five years, is expected to produce 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 100,000 homes or a major data centre^1^. The startup is engaging in regulatory talks with Dutch, French, and Belgian authorities and has secured industry partners, including Dutch manufacturing giant VDL, to help prototype core components^1^.
To move forward with building its prototype reactor, Thorizon aims to raise €750 million^1^. European funding for SMR startups lags behind that of similar companies in the US[^2^]. Despite this challenge, Thorizon's innovative approach targets not only energy production but also sustainability, safety, and waste reduction, seeking to address Europe's dual crises of energy shortages and environmental degradation through this advanced nuclear technology^1^.
[^2^]: Nuclear Energy Insider [^3^]: World Nuclear Association
Science and technology are integral components in Thorizon's ambitious project to transform nuclear waste into a sustainable energy source, as they underpin the development of their small modular molten salt reactor (MSR). The advanced technology of the MSR addresses concerns regarding nuclear proliferation and economic factors, setting it apart from earlier attempts to recycle nuclear waste in the 1960s and '70s.
