Netherlands-based start-up Thorizon has signed a cooperation agreement with France’s EDF R&D to advance the Thorizon One molten salt reactor design. Thorizon, which was spun out of NRG, which operates the High Flux Reactor in Petten, is developing a molten salt reactor (MSR), targeted at large industrial customers and utilities. Thorizon aims to construct a pilot reactor system before 2035.
The Thorizon One will provide 250MWt of industrial heat, which can be directly used in industrial processes for the chemical industry or hydrogen production. Alternatively, it can produce 100MWe to provide electricity for 250.000 households. The molten salt fuel adopted by Thorizon uses a combination of long-lived elements from reprocessed used fuel and thorium. The reactor will be able to recycle long-lived waste from existing nuclear facilities. The core is composed of a set of cartridges that is replaced every 5-10 years. Thorizon says this offers additional advantages in terms of safety, time to market and costs.
According to Thorizon, the reactor only generates energy when salt is circulated through the cartridges. If the pump stops, the reactor shuts down, making the design “walk-away” safe. The cartridge design enables the use of existing and proven materials and components, minimising development and licensing timelines. 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.
Under the new agreement, EDF R&D will review Thorizon’s neutronic core calculations and conduct scenario analyses to determine how the Thorizon One could help to close the fuel cycle in the European reactor fleet. Thorizon said it will “benefit from EDF’s expertise as the French leader in electricity production, and in particular from the recognised skills of its R&D researchers”.
Bernard Salha, EDF R&D Director and EDF Group Chief Technical Officer said the R&D team covers all disciplines from neutronics and fuel to safety and construction. “We are actively supporting several start-ups in the France 2030 programme. The cartridge-based approach of Thorizon is interesting and promising.”
