Thorizon, dewelke het langlevende kernafval wil gaan gebruiken als grondstof door het te verwerken met behulp van gesmolten zout kernreactoren, heeft eind vorig jaar een samenwerking opgezet met twee andere Nederlandse bedrijven: Demcon en VDL Group.
Belangrijke stappen in deze ontwikkeling omvatten de demonstratie én validatie inzake het bouwen, de veiligheid en de functionaliteit van kritische componenten.
De tijdslijn: twee en een half jaar.
Innovative Collaboration for Future-Proof Energy: DEMCON, Thorizon, and VDL Group Join Forces in Developing Molten Salt Reactor
The goal of the project is to demonstrate and validate the manufacturability, safety, and functionality of critical components and non-nuclear (sub)systems of these reactors.
To achieve this, the companies aim to establish an advanced testing facility where these technologies can be developed and tested.
The partnership between DEMCON, Thorizon, and VDL Group was formalized in October during a visit by Minister Sophie Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) to DIFFER, a leading research institute in Eindhoven. During the visit, the consortium partners, along with DIFFER, signed a letter of intent to accelerate SMR technology development in the Netherlands.
Early December, the consortium reached a major milestone by submitting an ambitious grant application to the Province of Noord-Brabant.
This application underlines the commitment of the involved parties to foster innovation and sustainable development in the region.
Momentum for Nuclear Innovation
The minister’s visit to Noord-Brabant focused on the energy transition, and specifically on hydrogen and nuclear energy. Opportunities for the region and its high-tech manufacturing industry were discussed.
In 2021, the province of Noord-Brabant already started the innovation coalition ‘Nuclear Energy for the Future’ with the goal to leverage the manufacturing industry and research institutes in Noord-Brabant to accelerate the development of molten salt reactors (MSR’s).
The Dutch government’s plans also assign a significant role to nuclear energy in the future energy mix.
Recently, tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Meta have expressed interest in SMRs for powering data centers, aiming to meet the growing energy demands of AI while reducing CO2 emissions.
Both Google and Amazon recently announced strategic investments in nuclear technology.
Molten Salt Reactors: Sustainable Nuclear Technology
In the Netherlands, Thorizon is leading the development of a 100 MWe molten salt reactor – enough energy to power 250,000 households or a single data center. The Thorizon One reactor is "walk-away safe" and takes a crucial step toward circularity by using long-lived nuclear waste as fuel. The reactor has received support from the French government and has been selected as a key project by the European Commission. The DIFFER research institute supports the development of these reactors through its unique DICE research facility, where the interaction between corrosion, heat, and radiation is studied to optimize material choices.
Opportunity for the Dutch Manufacturing Industry
Historically, nuclear projects have been large-scale, one-off initiatives.
The future, however, lies in developing small modular reactors built from individually manufactured components produced in series.
This presents a unique opportunity for the Dutch high-tech manufacturing industry.
With its extensive expertise in supply chain management e.g. for the semiconductor industry, the Dutch manufacturing industry can play a critical role in developing and producing advanced components and (sub)systems for nuclear applications.
Participating in this project will not only provide companies with valuable experience but also help them attain the qualifications needed to become part of the supply chain for SMRs and large-scale reactors planned in the Netherlands.
This strengthens the competitiveness of the Dutch manufacturing sector, creates new jobs, and fosters innovation.
The project aims to deliver several component prototypes and a test facility in Noord-Brabant within two and a half years.
"For Thorizon, this is a unique opportunity," says Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon. "Companies like VDL and DEMCON have unparalleled experience in realizing high-tech projects, from concept to prototype and serial production.
During our collaboration with DIFFER, we have seen that Brabant offers world-class knowledge and facilities and can act quickly. With these partners, we share an ambitious and pragmatic mindset that is crucial for our development and successful collaboration."
Bron: Thorizon
Dizzy schreef: 08 jan 2025, 10:23
Er zijn nu eenmaal weinig echt nieuwe ontwikkelingen te vinden, dat is typisch voor oude tech die vervangen wordt door nieuwe tech.
De oude tech,
het gebruik van fossiele brandstoffen, zal op termijn uiteraard vervangen dienen te worden.
Maar je moet wel de nieuwe ontwikkelingen
willen zien natuurlijk.
Verhaaltjes over slakken, konijnen, hazen, grijsgedraaide platen, analoge fotografie, etc zijn eerder iets voor andere topics.
Mijn inziens.
.
