Europe's nuclear waste may provide power for extended periods. This innovative company aims to demonstrate this possibility.
In an innovative move, a Franco-Dutch startup named Thorizon is developing a small modular molten salt reactor (MSR) that aims to generate new energy from nuclear waste. The company's goal is to transform existing nuclear waste stockpiles into a sustainable energy source, addressing energy shortages and environmental challenges in Europe.
Key details of Thorizon's plan include:
- Small Modular Reactor Design: The reactor is modular and uses molten salt as the reactor's primary coolant and fuel solvent, enabling high efficiency and safety.
- Fuel Composition: The reactor fuel will combine spent nuclear fuel (nuclear waste) with thorium, a material that can breed fissile uranium-233 when irradiated, allowing for longer fuel cycles and better utilization of nuclear material.
Thorizon's design uses a system of cartridges, each filled with molten salt and a mix of spent fuel from traditional reactors and fresh thorium. This approach is a revival of an older concept from the 1960s and 1970s, when fast reactors and recycling of nuclear waste were explored but later abandoned due to proliferation concerns and economic factors. Today, improved technology and geopolitical priorities create a new opportunity for these reactors.
The company's first reactor, Thorizon One, is expected to produce 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 100,000 homes or a major data centre. If Thorizon manages to overcome the hurdles, it could clean up nuclear waste, reduce Europe's reliance on fossil fuels, and supply stable baseload power to homes and industries.
Venture capital, public-private partnerships, and government backing will be crucial for Thorizon's funding and success. The company has so far raised €42.5mn, including funding from the French government and Dutch bodies such as Invest-NL and the Brabant Startup Fonds. Thorizon employs around 50 engineers split between Amsterdam and Lyon, with industry partners, including Dutch manufacturing giant VDL, helping prototype core components.
Comparatively, two SMR startups in the US, TerraPower and X-Power, have each raised over $1bn to commercialise their technology. However, in Europe, no tech companies have attracted a fraction of that funding. Being based in Europe may put the company at a disadvantage from a funding perspective.
Efforts to bury nuclear waste deep underground for eternity, like Finland's 500-metre-deep Onkalo repository, are making progress but remain contentious and expensive. Thorizon's strategy of reusing nuclear waste for energy production offers a more practical and cost-effective solution to the problem of nuclear waste management.
In conclusion, Thorizon's strategy integrates advanced molten salt reactor technology with nuclear waste recycling and thorium fuel cycles to create a practical and sustainable nuclear energy solution that tackles both waste management and energy production challenges. If successful, Thorizon's MSR could revolutionize the nuclear energy industry and contribute significantly to Europe's energy transition goals.
[1] Thorizon Energy. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from https://thorizonenergy.com/about-us/ [4] Thorizon Energy. (n.d.). Our mission. Retrieved from https://thorizonenergy.com/our-mission/
- The innovative nuclear energy startup, Thorizon, is seeking funding from venture capital, public-private partnerships, and government backing to revolutionize the industry and contribute to Europe's energy transition goals.
- Thorizon's strategy of reusing nuclear waste for energy production offers a more practical and cost-effective solution to the problem of nuclear waste management compared to the contentious and expensive deep underground burial methods, such as Finland's Onkalo repository.
- Thorizon's small modular molten salt reactor design combines spent nuclear fuel with thorium, a material that breeds fissile uranium-233, aiming to transform existing nuclear waste stockpiles into a sustainable energy source while reducing Europe's reliance on fossil fuels. The company's approach also integrates advanced technology and health-and-wellness considerations, aligning with the broader objectives of the health-and-wellness and technology industries.
