The nuclear energy industry faces several challenges: managing long-lived radioactive waste, preventing material degradation in reactors, and developing safer, more cost-efficient technologies. Thorizon addresses these issues through innovative molten salt reactor (MSR) technology that processes waste, enhances safety, and reduces costs.
To advance the development of its small molten salt reactor, Thorizon One, this deep tech startup has secured €20M in funding. This includes €16 million as the first tranche of its Series A round, led by the Dutch National Promotional Institution, Invest-NL, with backing from an InvestEU guarantee from the European Commission for research, along with strong support from Positron Ventures, PDENH, and Impuls Zeeland.
Thorizon has also secured an additional €4 million grant from the Dutch Province of Noord-Brabant in consortium with VDL Groep and Demcon. These investments follow a €10 million grant from the French government’s France 2030 Innovative Reactor Program in 2024. Including its first equity round, Thorizon has raised €42.5 million to drive the commercialisation of its innovative reactor technology. The valuation was not disclosed to TFN.
This funding milestone brings Thorizon halfway to its Series A target, focusing on attracting European investors to strengthen Europe’s energy security and leadership in nuclear innovation. The capital will support the prototyping and demonstration of Thorizon One’s groundbreaking “cartridge” fuel system, designed to safely and cost-effectively generate power by recycling nuclear waste.
The company will also finalise the reactor’s basic design, advance licensing, and prototype key components as it moves toward starting construction in 2030. Thorizon One can provide 250 MWt of industrial heat or generate 100 MWe of electricity, making it suitable for both industrial processes and electricity generation.
Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon, commented: “Our mission is to drive nuclear innovation in Europe — enhancing energy security while reducing carbon emissions and burning long-lived nuclear waste. We welcome new strategic partners to join us in making Europe’s first molten salt reactor a reality.”
Developing next-generation nuclear reactors
Thorizon was founded in 2018 by Lucas Pool and Sander de Groot as a spin-off from the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG), the Dutch national nuclear research institute. The company sees small modular nuclear reactors as an ideal, stable, clean complement to an energy system increasingly reliant on wind and solar power.
Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon, shared with TFN: “Thrizon was founded to address the critical market need for clean, stable, and sustainable energy sources. With extensive experience in nuclear technology, Sander saw molten salt reactor technology as an optimal solution to Europe’s energy transition – providing carbon-free power while repurposing nuclear waste as fuel.”
Thorizon is developing a “walk-away safe” molten salt reactor that uses long-lived nuclear waste as fuel, taking a step toward circularity. By using waste as fuel, Thorizon contributes to a more circular atomic energy system, reducing long-lived waste and generating CO2-free energy. The company is working on reactor design and system prototypes, with plans to begin constructing its first reactor, Thorizon One, around 2030.
Thorizon’s mission is to create a dependable, safe, and virtually inexhaustible source of CO2-free energy. They aim to contribute to the global energy transition by developing next-generation nuclear reactors that effectively manage waste and provide clean energy solutions for industrial applications and electricity generation.
Thorizon is engaging with new strategic investors to expand its European operations. With backing from the France 2030 program, endorsements from the EU Industrial Alliance on small modular reactors (SMRs), and commitments from Invest-NL and other key shareholders, Thorizon is positioned as a frontrunner in Europe’s nuclear innovation landscape.
Thorizon One: a next-generation reactor
Thorizon One is a new type of nuclear reactor that has been developed to be cleaner and safer than current nuclear power plants. What makes it special is that it can use existing nuclear waste as fuel, helping solve two problems at once: creating clean energy and reducing nuclear waste. The reactor uses a special cartridge system and salt-based technology, making it safer, cheaper, and faster to build than traditional nuclear plants. This could help Europe switch to cleaner energy sources.
Lauwers explained further: “Thorizon One features a groundbreaking “cartridge” fuel system, designed to safely and cost-effectively generate power by recycling nuclear waste. The cartridge system solves the two main challenges inherent to molten salt reactors: material integrity and fuel management. The cartridge is designed to be replaced every 5–10 years, and its containment materials are already qualified for nuclear use, by compartmentalising the fuel into modular cartridges, transportation and handling become feasible.”
The company has made good progress so far. It has raised money through investments and government support and has 50 engineers working in Amsterdam and Lyon. Thorizon is collaborating with several prominent companies, including Orano for fuel development, Tractebel for engineering work, VDL Groep for building test versions, and EDF and EPZ to help plan operations.
Dutch and French nuclear safety agencies (ANVS and ASN) are collaborating on a preparatory review of Thorizon’s reactor design. This review seeks to facilitate pre-licence applications anticipated in 2025, paving the way for deployment by 2032. Thorizon is assessing three potential construction sites in France and the Benelux region. If all goes to plan, they intend to commence building in 2030 and deploy the reactor by 2032.
Speaking about the future, Lauwers concluded: “Over the next few years, Thorizon will focus on advancing the Thorizon One. Using the recent €20 million investment, Thorizon will prototype and demonstrate the cartridge fuel system, designed to safely and cost-effectively generate power by recycling nuclear waste. Additionally, Thorizon will finalise the reactor’s basic design, and advance licensing with Dutch and French regulators. Key partnerships with Orano, Tractebel, and VDL Groep will support development, while feasibility studies at nuclear-designated sites in France and the Benelux will lay the groundwork for construction. Thorizon aims to begin building its first reactor by 2030.”
