Amsterdam’s Thorizon receives €10M from French govt to make nuclear energy more circular using molten salt

Amsterdam-based Thorizon, a spin-off from the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG), announced that it has received €10M from the French government to develop a molten salt reactor — Thorizon One. 

Furthermore, the Dutch company has been selected for inclusion in France’s nuclear innovation program, known as France 2030, which provides a grant as well as access to expertise in nuclear research, European legislation, and business development.

Thorizon is one of ten startups supported by the French government.

“Only two of those startups have been founded outside of France, Newcleo and Thorizon,” says Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon. 

“We are very proud to be part of this selected group. It indicates that the design of our facility is considered scientifically and economically feasible,” adds Lauwers.

“Historically, France has been the center of nuclear expertise in the world” according to Lauwers. “It is therefore important for us to also have a physical presence there. Especially since we collaborate with the French company Orano, a recognised international operator in the field of nuclear materials, in particular through the recycling of nuclear materials into new fuel for a facility like ours. Together with them, we want to make nuclear energy more circular.”

With the subsidy, Thorizon intends to accelerate its ambition to develop a small modular reactor based on molten salt, using nuclear waste from conventional nuclear plants as an important fuel source. 

Providing energy to 250K households

Thorizon is partnering with renowned companies, including Orano, CEA, Oakridge, Tractebel, NRGIPALLAS, and Differ, to develop a sustainable, cost-effective, safe modular facility. 

The facility runs on molten salt and is capable of handling high temperatures under low pressure, making it impossible for radioactive materials to leak.

The future facility aims to provide clean energy to 250 thousand households, marking the first step towards making nuclear energy more circular.

Thorizon: Making nuclear energy more circular

Founded in 2018 by Sander de Groot and Lucas Pool, Thorizon is on a mission to develop a reactor based on molten salt that can be realised rapidly and smartly, is’ walk-away safe, and takes a first step towards circularity by using long-lived nuclear waste as a fuel source. 

The Thorizon One is a modular molten salt reactor that transforms nuclear waste into carbon-free energy. 

Its core consists of multiple fully enclosed ‘cartridges,’ which can be replaced to incorporate innovations. 

Through this, the company has managed to reduce the amount of long-lived radioactive waste and generate 250MW of clean energy in one go.

Kiki Lauwers adds, “In addition to being safe and circular, the Thorizon facility is also ‘smart.’ Our design is unique due to the use of replaceable cartridges in the reactor core. It allows us to work with materials that do not need to withstand corrosion for fifty to hundred years. These materials are already available today, enabling us to quickly start the realisation of the reactor and contribute to the energy transition in the short term.”