World’s First Thorium Reactor Designed
India’s forward-thinking attitude has established the country as the leader in thorium reactor development. But can India put its long-term plan into reality? Now, their AHWR design is finished, taking them one big step forward.
The reactor is equipped with![]()
passive shutdown systems, core heat removal through natural circulation, emergency core coolant system (ECCS) and gravity-driven water pool (GDWP), a large tank of borated water on top of the primary containment of vessel. It can operate for 120 days without operator - that’s 4 months without anyone controlling it. And did we mention the design life: this reactor will last some 100 years.
passive shutdown systems, core heat removal through natural circulation, emergency core coolant system (ECCS) and gravity-driven water pool (GDWP), a large tank of borated water on top of the primary containment of vessel. It can operate for 120 days without operator - that’s 4 months without anyone controlling it. And did we mention the design life: this reactor will last some 100 years.The plan is to have a 300MW prototype in operation by 2016 and then expand thereafter. By 2050, thorium should meet 30% of India’s electricity demand.
The completion of the AHWR design is an important step towards reducing the import of fossil fuels and combat climate change.
To learn more about India’s Thorium Energy Program, have a look at their three presentations from ThEC13 in Geneva below, which contain a wealth of information (click on the title to see the slides as you watch the video):
Towards Sustainable Secure and Safe Energy Future Leveraging Opportunities with Thorium by Anil Kakodkar, BARC, India (32:34)
Towards Sustainable Secure and Safe Energy Future Leveraging Opportunities with Thorium by Anil Kakodkar, BARC, India (32:34)
Towards Sustainable Secure and Safe Energy Future Leveraging Opportunities with Thorium
Published on Nov 7, 2013
Anil Kakodkar from BARC in India gives a talk at ThEC13 titled: Towards Sustainable Secure and Safe Energy Future Leveraging Opportunities
Recycling Challenges of Thorium-based Fuels by PK Wattal, BARC, India (26:45)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pFBkUNCp1I Published on Nov 12, 2013
PK Wattal from BARC in India gives a talk at ThEC13 titled: Recycling Challenges of Thorium based Fuels
Overview of the Thorium Programme in India by Pallippattu Krishnan Vijayan, BARC, India (33:09)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFHdlvRxGqQ Published on Nov 7, 2013
Design of World's first Thorium based nuclear reactor is ready, by India Today
Areva and Solvay Join Forces to Thorify
Thorium is not new for Areva. Indeed, it has researched Thorium fuels since the 1970’s. Now, Areva has joined forces with the Belgian chemical company Solvay on an R&D programme focused on medium-term Thorium valorization in nuclear power, geared towards first phase of fuel development with irradiation by 2020.
The companies investigate Thorium fuel options as a complement to the U/Pu cycle in an international context, and address a holistic Thorium management providing industrial solutions to those requiring and considering valorization of Thorium both in rare earth as in nuclear energy market.
Mr. Thierry Delloye from Solvay and Mr. Luc Van Den Durpel from Areva at ThEC13 in Geneva.
In his presentation at the Thorium Energy Conference 2013 (ThEC13) in Geneva, Mr. Luc Van Den Durpel, Vice President of Corporate R&D at Areva, presented an ‘Industrial View on Thorium: Possibilities, Challenges and Paths Forward’. Mr. Van Den Durpel maintained a skeptical tone throughout his presentation and stated, that Thorium use in nuclear power will only occur if a government drives a large Thorium fuel and reactor R&D programme with a long-term vision.
Nuclear and Chemistry Giants Join Forces
Also, he believes that a transition, if desired, to go towards 100% Thorium will take decades at least. The co-operation with Solvay starts with a more medium-term goal, however, and aims at using Thorium as a complement to uranium. Areva and Solvay welcome R&D-organisations and other companies for collaboration.
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is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate, headquartered in Paris. The company is mainly known for nuclear power, although it also pursues interests in other energy projects. It is the only company with a presence in each industrial activity linked to nuclear energy: mining, chemistry, enrichment, fuel assembly, reprocessing, engineering, nuclear propulsion and reactors, treatment, recycling, stabilization, and dismantling. Areva had revenue of € 8.872 billion in 2011, and it has 47,541 employees.
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is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863. At one point it was the largest multinational company in the world. In 2012, it realized 12.8 billion € in revenues with 29,100 employees. In 2011 Solvay acquired Rhodia, which has a Rare Earth division.
Solvay is particularly famous for its Fifth Solvay International Conference on Electrons and Photons. This is where the world's most notable physicists met to discuss the newly formulated quantum theory. The leading figures were Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. Einstein, disenchanted with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, remarked "God does not play dice". Bohr replied, "Einstein, stop telling God what to do".
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The famous Fifth Solvay Conference held in 1927 and regarded as a turning point for physics.
is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate, headquartered in Paris. The company is mainly known for nuclear power, although it also pursues interests in other energy projects. It is the only company with a presence in each industrial activity linked to nuclear energy: mining, chemistry, enrichment, fuel assembly, reprocessing, engineering, nuclear propulsion and reactors, treatment, recycling, stabilization, and dismantling. Areva had revenue of € 8.872 billion in 2011, and it has 47,541 employees.
is a Belgian chemical company founded in 1863. At one point it was the largest multinational company in the world. In 2012, it realized 12.8 billion € in revenues with 29,100 employees. In 2011 Solvay acquired Rhodia, which has a Rare Earth division.Solvay is particularly famous for its Fifth Solvay International Conference on Electrons and Photons. This is where the world's most notable physicists met to discuss the newly formulated quantum theory. The leading figures were Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. Einstein, disenchanted with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, remarked "God does not play dice". Bohr replied, "Einstein, stop telling God what to do".
The famous Fifth Solvay Conference held in 1927 and regarded as a turning point for physics.
17 of the 29 attendees (see picture) were or became Nobel Prize winners, including Marie Curie, who alone among them won a Nobel Prize in two separate scientific disciplines. One of them was for her research on the radiation phenomena of thorium amongst other elements.
Below you find the video of Mr. Van Den Durpel’s presentation at ThEC13 in Geneva.
Below you find the video of Mr. Van Den Durpel’s presentation at ThEC13 in Geneva.
ndustrial View on Thorium Possibilities Challenges and Paths Forward Luc Van Der Durpel Areva
Published on Nov 8, 2013
Mr. Luc Van Der Durpels presentation An Industrial View on Thorium Possibilities Challenges and Paths Forward can be viewed and downloaded by simply clicking on the title.
Updated 2014-01-10:
Solvay and AREVA join their expertise in the development of new applications for thorium published by Solvay
Solvay and AREVA join their expertise in the development of new applications for thorium published by Solvay
China Announces Thorium Energy Project
The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced that it will finance the development of a programme to develop a Thorium Fuelled Molten Salt Reactor (TFMSR).![]()
This programme will place China at the forefront… continue
The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced that it will finance the development of a programme to develop a Thorium Fuelled Molten Salt Reactor (TFMSR).
This programme will place China at the forefront… continue
Bill Gates Invest in Thorium Capable Reactor Venture
Bill Gates received a standing ovation at this year's TED Conference in Long Beach, California.
![]()
"There are some innovations in nuclear, there is modular, there is liquid…"continue
Bill Gates received a standing ovation at this year's TED Conference in Long Beach, California.
"There are some innovations in nuclear, there is modular, there is liquid…"continueCongressman Calls for Thorium Energy
In his quest for the US to produce more responsible energy at home, Congressman Joe Sestak looked for ways to improve the energy industry.![]()
He then began to take a closer look at thorium energy and has since…continue
In his quest for the US to produce more responsible energy at home, Congressman Joe Sestak looked for ways to improve the energy industry.
He then began to take a closer look at thorium energy and has since…continue
The nuke that might have been
Being plentiful and cheap, thorium is the only fuel that stands a chance of![]()
generating electricity as cheaply as burning coal. As such, it is the only fuel capable of weaning the world off the biggest single polluter of all… continue
Being plentiful and cheap, thorium is the only fuel that stands a chance of
generating electricity as cheaply as burning coal. As such, it is the only fuel capable of weaning the world off the biggest single polluter of all… continueWhy Aren't We Using Thorium in Nuclear Reactors?
Given the![]()
possibility of a meltdown is nearly zero and the waste cannot be used to make bombs... continue
Given the
possibility of a meltdown is nearly zero and the waste cannot be used to make bombs... continueAdvanced Nuclear Energy Transcends Political Climate
And, finally, there’s thorium, a fuel source best suited to run in fourth![]()
generation “liquid fuel” reactor. Thorium has much higher melting point…continue
![]()
And, finally, there’s thorium, a fuel source best suited to run in fourth
generation “liquid fuel” reactor. Thorium has much higher melting point…continueNuclear power looks for new ally—environmentalistsCountries like India and China have made thorium a linchpin of a long-term transition away from uranium,![]()
said Paul Genoa, director of policy development at the Nuclear Energy Institute… continue
said Paul Genoa, director of policy development at the Nuclear Energy Institute… continueAsgard’s Fire
So a technology abandoned because it could not be turned![]()
into weapons may now, in part for that very reason, be about to resurface… continue
So a technology abandoned because it could not be turned
into weapons may now, in part for that very reason, be about to resurface… continueThorium and the Dream of Clean Nuclear Power
![]()
A new generation of scientists and nuclear engineers argue that thorium could be the key to realizing a dream… continue
A new generation of scientists and nuclear engineers argue that thorium could be the key to realizing a dream… continueThorium type nuclear should have been developed years ago
![]()
…Thorium type nuclear, of all sizes, should have been developed years ago, and is still possible… continue
…Thorium type nuclear, of all sizes, should have been developed years ago, and is still possible… continueThe nuke that might have been
Being plentiful and cheap, thorium is the only fuel that stands a chance of![]()
generating electricity as cheaply as burning coal. As such, it is the only fuel capable of weaning the world off the biggest single polluter of all… continue
Being plentiful and cheap, thorium is the only fuel that stands a chance of
generating electricity as cheaply as burning coal. As such, it is the only fuel capable of weaning the world off the biggest single polluter of all… continueWhy Britain's new reactors are old-fashioned
![]()
…If politicians in the 1980s had taken a long-term and sensible view we might now be looking at the dawn of a new thorium age in Somerset… continue
…If politicians in the 1980s had taken a long-term and sensible view we might now be looking at the dawn of a new thorium age in Somerset… continue
Last updated 18 February, 2014