A UK-Danish Small Modular Reactor partnership for growth, jobs, energy security and Net Zero

It’s been great to see nuclear energy, decarbonisation, and Net Zero at the top of the Government’s agenda over the last week with the creation of the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. UK Atomics passionately believes that nuclear energy has the power to provide security to the UK’s grid, help societies move away from fossil fuels, and create sustainable energy production as we transition to low carbon energy sources.?

Nuclear energy currently generates 6.5 GW of electricity in the UK – 15% of current supply.? Government plans set out in last year’s British Energy Security Strategy call for an ambitious 24 GW of nuclear capacity – 25% of projected supply – by 2050.?

With most existing capacity set to be retired by the end of the decade, the time is right for investment in new nuclear projects – large-scale reactors are unlikely to reach the 24 GW target by themselves. This has led to the development of widely publicised next-generation small modular reactors (“SMRs”), which aim to bridge that gap in a manner that is both scalable and with lower financial barriers.

While many of these SMR projects are still in the design phase, our production team at Copenhagen Atomics has created a deliverable reactor, developed using a product-first approach with a heavy focus on testing and overcoming engineering challenges.?

We have pioneered a technological breakthrough. Based on a foundation of information gained through updated testing and development in our facilities and data from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment in the 1960s at Oak Ridge National Laboratory we have pioneered thorium molten salt reactor development.?

Thorium is the only element that allows for a breeder reactor in thermal spectrum. This means that the power output per kg of fissile inventory can beat any other reactor. This is crucial for scaling global nuclear output to double digit TW levels in the coming decades.

Our next step is to build a prototype reactor to perform criticality tests, with commercial operations expected to begin from 2030. The reactor has been designed to be easily replicable, using an assembly line, which will dramatically increase production capacity. In addition, our design can use spent fuel from other reactors, creating a circular economy and greatly reducing waste.

Our goal is long-term partnership with the UK to provide clean, cheap energy, utilising the country’s well-developed supply chain and industrial base to build and transport modular molten salt reactors – which are small enough to fit inside shipping containers – across the length and breadth of the UK supply chain. The UK is an ideal choice for building our production capacity, and our planned expansion of operations will provide jobs, growth and prosperity to the local areas around our build sites.

If you are interested in hearing more about our UK plans and technology join us at our webinar hosted by the NIA on 16th March 2023.