Tractebel supports Thorizon on molten salt reactor development

Tractebel will help Thorizon develop an advanced modular reactor (AMR) based on molten salt, using spent fuel from existing nuclear power plants as an important source of carbon-free energy. Unlike in traditional nuclear reactors, this reactor core contains molten salt, which acts as both the fuel and the coolant. The molten salt, given its inherent physical properties, is capable of handling high temperatures and allows low-pressure operation under all circumstances. This type of reactor has the potential to make nuclear power more sustainable, cost-effective and inherently safe.

The Thorizon One will provide 250MW of industrial heat, which can be directly used in industrial processes (e.g., chemical industry or hydrogen production) or can be transformed into electricity for 250.000 households. The molten salt fuel adopted by Thorizon uses a combination of long-lived elements from reprocessed spent fuel and thorium. The reactor will be able to recycle long-lived waste from existing nuclear facilities. What is unique about the Thorizon One concept is that the core is composed of a set of cartridges that is replaced every 5 to 10 years. This concept offers additional advantages in terms of safety, time to market and costs:

• Safety: The reactor only generates energy when salt is circulated through the cartridges. If the pump stops, the reactor shuts down. This makes the design “walk-away” safe.
• Time to market: The cartridge design enables the use of existing and proven materials and components, minimizing development and licensing timelines.
• Costs: Cartridges are efficiently produced in series off-site. They contain all primary systems, together with low-pressure operations, which results in a lean reactor building.

“For several years, Tractebel has been a frontrunner in the deployment of SMRs, which we believe will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We are now proud to support Thorizon for the development of a Generation IV reactor. This ground-breaking technology will close the fuel cycle and make the circular economy a reality in the nuclear sector. Thanks to its flexibility, this advanced nuclear reactor concept could contribute to addressing the challenges both of industry decarbonisation by providing heat for industrial processes and of energy security by producing electricity for households."

Vincent Schryvers, Business Manager of the Netherlands, Tractebel

“The expertise Tractebel has built while supporting operating nuclear power plants across Europe for decades, and more recently working on multiple small modular and innovative reactor concepts is invaluable for a start-up like ours. The large and experienced team in Belgium is ideally suited to help us make the connection between the Netherlands and France. We very much look forward to working together with the Tractebel team in our offices in Amsterdam and Lyon.”

Kiki Lauwers, CEO, Thorizon

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