The North Holland startup Thorizon is developing a special molten salt reactor that should be capable of supplying both fossil-free electricity and industrial heat. With this MoU, signed by a broad coalition of collaborating parties, the realisation of this molten salt reactor moves closer.
In 2030, Thorizon aims to commission the PIONEER demonstration reactor at the Energy & Health Campus in Petten. This involves close collaboration with NRG PALLAS, a leading nuclear service provider focused on the production of medical isotopes and nuclear technology research. In 2034, this should lead to Europe’s first commercial molten salt reactor in Zeeland. The cumulative investment in this roadmap is expected to reach over one billion euros, creating thousands of highly skilled jobs and positioning the Netherlands as one of Europe’s leading centres for nuclear research and development. The Wennink report therefore recognises this initiative as a flagship project for Dutch and European competitiveness.
Societal and strategic impact
What's special about the Thorizon concept is that the reactor uses existing nuclear waste as fuel. This reduces the amount and harmfulness of nuclear waste, while also creating a new, sustainable energy source. The reactor generates enough energy to supply 250,000 households with electricity or to produce high-temperature clean steam for industrial sustainability. Besides taking a step towards circularity in the nuclear fuel cycle, this form of energy production makes us less reliant on energy and raw materials from abroad. This strengthens European strategic autonomy in terms of energy, high-value technology, and earning power.
Powerful collaboration
Thorizon is a spin-off of NRG PALLAS from Petten. The company operates from Amsterdam, working closely with universities, research institutes, industrial partners, and investors across the country, thereby strengthening the national nuclear ecosystem. The decision to locate the PIONEER demonstration reactor in Petten reconfirms the excellence of the cluster in the field of nuclear research and development. The arrival of the PIONEER demonstration reactor not only reinforces the cluster's long-term strategic position but also attracts substantial investment and high-quality employment. The choice of Noord-Holland Noord and Zeeland demonstrates that these regions can make a significant contribution to national and European challenges based on their regional capabilities and strengths.
Long-term commitment
ROM InWest is an investor via the PDENH fund Has been involved with Thorizon since an early stage, supporting the company in its further development and scaling up towards the realisation of the molten salt reactor. The signing of the MoU marks a next step in this development, in close cooperation with partners from the broader national ecosystem, important regional partners such as the province of North Holland and NRG PALLAS, and the municipality of Schagen.
CEO of ROM InWest Janet Nieboer: “This is a milestone for Thorizon on the way to a new generation of safe and sustainable nuclear technology, and therefore an important step forward in the energy transition. It shows what is possible when entrepreneurship is combined with strong and long-term partnerships. By anchoring the PIONEER demonstrator at NRG PALLAS on the Energy & Health Campus Petten, we are scaling up regional innovation for national and European impact. ROM InWest is proud to stand alongside Thorizon and continue to support its entrepreneurial journey towards commercial rollout.”
Read here the Press release from Thorizon
