European Commissioner Hoekstra Launches Thorizon’s Test Facility for Molten Salt Reactor
On Monday, June 1, European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra launched an important milestone towards a new way of generating energy in Europe: the establishment of a test facility for a molten salt reactor located on High Tech Campus Eindhoven.
One of the greatest challenges of our time
“The energy transition is one of the greatest challenges facing Europe and the world today,” said Hoekstra. “Nuclear energy must be part of the energy mix. Molten salt reactors are an important step towards stable, reliable and clean energy for Europe, helping to safeguard Europe’s energy independence. It is inspiring to see such innovation taking place in the Netherlands.”
The Commissioner visited the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven together with a delegation from the Dutch government, the Province of North Brabant and industry representatives. Together with Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers, he officially opened the facility by cutting the ribbon. The event was attended by State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat (Climate Policy and Green Growth), Deputy Martijn van Gruijthuijsen and technology leader Peter Wennink.
Leading the way
“North Brabant thrives on collaboration,” said Martijn van Gruijthuijsen, Deputy for Economic Affairs. “Our smart manufacturing industry knows how to work together, and I am proud of that. With our strong high-tech sector and research institutions, we have everything we need to lead in this development. This technology offers us the opportunity to connect sustainable energy, industrial strength and international cooperation in a safe and meaningful way.”
Building a low carbon economy
Solar and wind energy are essential to the transition towards a sustainable energy system, but they depend on weather conditions and are therefore not always available.
Molten salt reactors can provide a solution. They are compact, safe and faster to build than conventional nuclear power plants, while also enabling the reuse of nuclear waste. In addition to electricity generation, they can provide industrial heat and hydrogen production, both of which are critical building blocks for a low carbon economy.
Delivering tangible results
The test facility is being developed through the PROMOSA project, in which Brabant based companies Thorizon, VDL Groep and DEMCON are working together with the Province of North Brabant to develop and test critical components for a molten salt reactor.
The project has a total budget of €8 million, of which the Province contributes half. This investment is delivering tangible results in the form of working prototypes and the Brabant test facility. All components will be tested in high temperature molten salt, without the use of nuclear fuel.