Copenhagen Atomics’ Roadmap to a Commercial Breeder Reactor

Copenhagen Atomics embarked on its journey in 2014 with the overarching objective of achieving large-scale mass manufacturing of thorium molten salt reactors, with the footprint of a 40-foot shipping container. Our vision extends beyond mere mass manufacturing; we aspire to demonstrate the viability of our reactor design in realizing a thorium breeder reactor in thermal spectrum. This breakthrough promises not only significantly reduced energy costs but also the transformative ability to reuse nuclear waste.

The realization of a thorium breeder reactor, accompanied by mass manufacturability will inevitably result in significantly lower energy prices, and at a time when global demand for energy is accelerating, our technology emerges as a frontrunner in offering a truly scalable solution. Consequently, the possibilities for Copenhagen Atomics appear endless and potentially incomprehensible.

In pursuit of this visionary goal, Copenhagen Atomics has outlined six pivotal milestones that must be overcome to reach the envisioned "nirvana."

The six major milestones are:

Since our inception in 2014, Copenhagen Atomics has diligently pursued our milestones, achieving an impressive progress and cultivating innovation. In Milestone #1, our commitment has led to the development of groundbreaking patents, new methods, and built new products many of which we offer to collaborators, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. As we continuously refine these components, Milestone #1 stands at 95% completion.

Milestone #2 is currently 75% complete. We have built two full-scale reactor prototypes and are in the process of ordering the parts for a third. This next prototype will undergo testing with thorium and uranium salts at 600 °C at our headquarters near Copenhagen Airport, marking a significant stride in our journey.

The next round of investments and most of our resources in the next two years are primarily dedicated towards Milestone #3, which is the 1 MW demonstration/test reactor. This effort aims to demonstrate our capacity to build and operate a molten salt reactor with a thorium blanket—a pioneering feat. The test reactor will not have all the features of a commercial reactor but is necessary to prove the accuracy of our simulations as well as material, production methods and volatile fission product removal. We are in the final stages of negotiations to run the 1MW test reactor in a few countries, which is why we see it as 25% done.

With the extensive knowledge and experience gained from Milestone #2, we anticipate a limited risk of failure or delays in Milestone #3. In addition, the test reactor is anticipated to accelerate approvals to run it in countries with prior nuclear experience.?

Milestone #4 should be relatively easy after achieving Milestone #3. We may need to run several versions of our test reactors before we can build 5 - 10 commercial reactors and run them. We can have the commercial reactors ready in 2028, but it is still an open question of which countries are the first to approve such advanced reactors. We can assemble the 10 commercial reactors a year at the current headquarters and we assume they will be installed at one single site abroad.?

Acknowledging the challenges faced by conventional nuclear reactors, where human factors and regulatory processes predominantly drive costs, Copenhagen Atomics aims to unravel this complexity. Our strategy involves securing type approvals from 2 - 3 forward-thinking countries, streamlining the installation and approval process, thereby minimizing costs.

Milestone #5 envisions the establishment of an assembly line production, or "gigafactory," in a country embracing our technology. This facility, supported by hundreds of sub-suppliers, will churn out reactors at a remarkable pace, revolutionizing deployment capabilities. Each assembly line, involving around 1000 personnel, is anticipated to yield an energy installation capacity of 15 GWe per year. Likely these factories will be in the countries that first allow type approvals and fast deployment of our reactors.?

The focal point of our journey, Milestone #6, promises to be transformative as we strive to achieve a breeder reactor in the thermal spectrum. This milestone, comparable to the first moon landing, holds the key to unlocking unparalleled energy potential, surpassing fossil fuels in both cost efficiency and scalability.

While Milestone #6 may seem distant, projected for achievement by 2035, our perspective has evolved significantly over the past decade, when it all began. What once appeared as a distant dream is now a tangible reality, as evidenced by our fast-approaching test reactor. The year 2024 marks a pivotal period for Copenhagen Atomics, with several non-fission reactor tests, lithium-7 production, and large-scale uranium and thorium salt production poised to shape the future of energy.