Copenhagen Atomics
Switzerland to receive prototype reactor to drive low-cost power
A potential low-cost power solution that will most likely NOT blossom within the “senior citizens’” lifespan … but interesting. (… no personal financial involvement.)
“ … the first-ever critical test of a thorium molten salt reactor on European soil, specifically in Switzerland.”
A snippet from an embedded link in the email below:
One month ago, I was at the Texas Nuclear Summit, a nuclear conference about building more nuclear power plants in Texas. I have never experienced anything like that in my entire career in the nuclear industry. Such optimism has not been found for half a century. The slogan of the conference was time-to-build! Many people have talked about putting the shovel in the dirt from the dais. The Texas forecast is to build 65 GW of new electricity capacity in the next 6 - 8 years. Which is more than all of Europe plans to build in the same time span. Texas has a population of 30 million and a double-digit growth. Europe has 450 million and negative growth.
The reactor: “The reactor type invented by Copenhagen Atomics is a thorium molten salt breeder reactor, which fits inside a custom built 40-foot shipping container and can be mass manufactured on assembly lines with an expected output of minimum 1 reactor per day (per assembly line).”
Business model: “Copenhagen Atomics will finance, build, own and operate the reactors on the customer site. The resulting energy prices are expected to be ¼ of the typical price from classic nuclear reactors.”
CA UPDATE January 2025
Jam's Opinion
It’s the beginning of 2025; the first quarter of this century has almost passed us by. I take a look in the crystal ball and digest what is about to come and also look back on a long walk for nuclear energy across a vast desert. Read more...
What happened in 2024?
PSI collaboration
Earlier this year, Copenhagen Atomics signed the most significant collaboration agreement in our 10-year history. We partnered with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) to conduct the first-ever critical test of a thorium molten salt reactor on European soil, specifically in Switzerland.
After a decade of development, Copenhagen Atomics has advanced the technology to the point where it is ready for real-world testing. This test validates the extensive simulations conducted on the reactor, bringing us closer to a fully operational commercial reactor.
Tonne-Scale Salt Production
Throughout 2024, Copenhagen Atomics’ salt team has optimized and scaled up production.
We now produce exceptionally high-quality salt in batches of several tonnes, enabling us to meet both testing requirements and customer demands.
Our batches feature impurity levels below 59 ppm for Fe, Cr, and Ni, and oxide levels below 50 ppm.
Notably, this year saw the delivery of our largest salt order to date delivered to Abilene Christian University in Texas.
Record Loop Operations
In 2024, Copenhagen Atomics operated more loops simultaneously than ever before. We have run more loops than anyone else, typically more than 10 loops operating for half or full year duration without maintenance.
Reliability is critical to our mission. These loops play a vital role in validating every component used in our reactors, ensuring the robustness and performance required for thorium molten salt reactor development.
DeepGEO Partnership
Copenhagen Atomics and DeepGEO have joined forces to tackle waste challenges in nuclear technologies. Our partnership focuses on recycling spent nuclear fuel, transforming it from a liability into a valuable resource.
Copenhagen Atomics’ thorium reactors are designed to efficiently burn spent fuel, significantly reducing long-lived waste. DeepGEO will provide waste management and disposal solutions, ensuring sustainable practices. This agreement underscores our commitment to innovative approaches in nuclear waste handling and invites collaboration with other developers.
Looking ahead to 2025!
While 2024 has been a milestone year, we are equally excited about the future.
In 2025, we anticipate several major developments, including the closure of a major funding round.
Happy New Year from the CA team!