Nuclear debris holds potential for sustaining Europe's energy demands for extended periods. Startup aims to provide empirical evidence for this claim
In the realm of nuclear energy, a Franco-Dutch startup named Thorizon is making waves with its innovative approach to reusing nuclear waste for energy generation. The company's new reactor, Thorizon One, is expected to begin construction within the next five years, subject to securing adequate funding[1].
Thorizon's design uses a system of cartridges filled with molten salt and a mix of spent fuel from traditional reactors and fresh thorium[2]. These cartridges can be replaced once the radioactive part of the fuel has largely been depleted[2]. This approach could have significant implications for global energy production, potentially reducing environmental impacts and enhancing localized energy independence[1].
The project, currently in the pre-construction phase, is a bold and ambitious effort to repurpose nuclear waste as a reliable, sustainable energy source[1][2]. However, it faces challenges common to advanced nuclear projects, with discussions ongoing about safety and technical risks associated with molten salt technology[1].
As of August 2025, the project is still advancing towards construction, with the global community closely watching its progress[1][2]. The company has already secured €42.5mn in funding, including support from the French government and Dutch bodies such as Invest-NL and the Brabant Startup Fonds[3]. Yet, Thorizon requires an additional €750mn to begin building its prototype reactor[3].
Industry partners, including Dutch manufacturing giant VDL, are helping prototype core components[3]. If successful, the Thorizon One reactor is projected to produce 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 100,000 homes or a major data center[3].
The potential of reusing spent nuclear fuel is not new, with countries like the US, France, and Japan long understanding its potential[4]. However, efforts to recycle nuclear waste were largely abandoned due to politics and economics in the 1960s and '70s[4]. Thorizon's plan could mark a return to this promising but dormant field.
Expanding nuclear power in Europe remains a contentious issue, but the tide may be turning as countries like the UK and France push to expand nuclear power capacity, especially in small modular reactors (SMRs)[5]. Meanwhile, efforts to bury nuclear waste deep underground, like Finland's 500-meter-deep Onkalo repository, continue but remain expensive and controversial[6].
In contrast, Thorizon's plan could offer a more cost-effective solution. Kiki Lauwers, the CEO of Thorizon, estimates that Europe's stockpiles of nuclear waste could power the entire region for 40 years, while US scientists believe it could power their country for around 100 years[3].
As the world grapples with the long-term problem of nuclear waste, Thorizon's innovative approach offers a glimmer of hope for a cleaner, more sustainable source of nuclear energy. The coming years will be crucial as the company works to secure the necessary funding and overcome technical challenges to bring Thorizon One to life.
References: 1. Thorizon - Transforming Nuclear Waste into Energy 2. Thorizon Power: The Future of Nuclear Energy 3. Thorizon raises €42.5mn to build first-of-its-kind molten salt reactor 4. The return of reprocessing 5. Small Modular Reactors: Europe's Future Nuclear Power? 6. Finland's nuclear waste repository Onkalo
The ambitious Thorizon project, seeking to reuse nuclear waste as a sustainable energy source, is currently seeking an additional €750 million in funding to construct the prototype reactor Thorizon One [3]. With the potential to power millions of homes and data centers [3], Thorizon's innovative design in the field of technology, combining molten salt reactors and a mix of spent fuel and fresh thorium, could have significant impacts on the future of finance and business, particularly in the arena of science and energy production.
