Dutch Consortium Advances Molten Salt Reactors for Sustainable Energy
Netherlands, Tuesday, 14 January 2025.
A Dutch consortium led by DEMCON, Thorizon, and VDL Group is developing molten salt reactors to provide safe, scalable, and sustainable energy solutions, supporting the Netherlands’ climate goals.
Project Overview and Key Players
In December 2024, three major Dutch technology companies formalized their collaboration to advance Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, specifically focusing on molten salt reactors [1][5]. The partnership between DEMCON, Thorizon, and VDL Group was officially established during a visit by Minister Sophie Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) to the DIFFER research institute in October 2024 [1]. VDL Group, a significant player in this consortium, demonstrated its industrial capability with a turnover of €6.354 billion in 2023 and approximately 15,000 employees across 20 countries [1].
Innovative Technology and Market Potential
The consortium’s flagship project, the Thorizon One reactor, is being developed as a 100 MWe molten salt reactor with the capacity to power 250,000 households or a data center [1]. This innovative reactor design has gained significant recognition, receiving support from the French government and selection by the European Commission [1][5]. The project has attracted attention from major tech companies, with industry giants like Google, Amazon, and Meta showing interest in SMRs as a solution for powering their data centers while reducing CO₂ emissions [1].
Research and Development Progress
Development work is currently underway at DIFFER’s DICE research facility, where scientists are studying material interactions under conditions relevant to nuclear applications [1][5]. The consortium has set ambitious targets, aiming to deliver several component prototypes and establish a test facility in Noord-Brabant by July 2027 [1]. This initiative builds upon the province’s 2021 ‘Nuclear Energy for the Future’ innovation coalition, which was established to accelerate molten salt reactor development [1][5].
Future Implementation and Safety Features
Thorizon plans to begin construction of its first reactor around 2030 [1]. The Thorizon One reactor incorporates advanced safety features, being described as ‘walk-away safe,’ and demonstrates environmental consciousness by utilizing long-lived nuclear waste as fuel [1][5]. The project represents a significant step forward in the Netherlands’ energy transition strategy, with the Dutch government envisioning a substantial role for nuclear energy in its future energy mix [5].