SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

France 2030 plan moves forward on nuclear future with Thorizon

The €54 billion France 2030 plan marks a turning point for nuclear energy, notably with the innovative Thorizon modular reactor project.

Share:

plan France 2030 nucléaire Thorizon

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90€/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99€/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

The France 2030 plan, inaugurated by President Emmanuel Macron in October 2021, has a financial envelope of 54 billion euros over five years. In February 2022, a specific announcement targets the nuclear sector, with an allocation of 1 billion euros to support the Nuward Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project and other innovative reactors. The goal is ambitious: to build an innovative prototype reactor in France by 2030. This initiative reflects a strong political will to position France as a leader in clean, innovative nuclear energy.

Thorizon receives funding under France 2030

Against this backdrop, Thorizon, a Dutch company spun off from NRG, announces that it has been selected to receive 10 million euros in funding under the France 2030 plan. The company is working on the development of a 250 MWt/100 MWe molten salt reactor (MSR), targeting mainly large industrial customers and utilities. The project stands out for its ambition to set up a pilot reactor system before 2035, using fluoride salts as a low-pressure primary coolant and envisaging the use of epithermal or fast neutron spectra.

Innovative features of the Thorizon project

The particular interest in the MSR concept lies in its ability to use thorium to produce nuclear fuel, requiring an initial source of fissile material, such as plutonium-239. Thorizon’s molten salt fuel integrates long-lived elements from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and thorium, enabling the recycling of long-lived nuclear waste from other nuclear facilities. This project aims to significantly reduce the amount of waste produced, in line with the objectives of the France 2030 plan.

Strategic collaboration and Thorizon expansion

Thanks to this funding, Thorizon benefits not only from financial resources, but also from access to significant expertise in nuclear research, European legislation and business development. The company highlights its accelerated ambition to develop an SMR based on molten salt, envisaging the use of nuclear waste as a fuel source. Earlier this year, Thorizon established a second facility in Lyon, France, underlining the importance of France as a global center of nuclear expertise and strengthening its collaboration with Orano to make nuclear energy more circular.

Thorizon is not alone in its quest for nuclear innovation under the France 2030 umbrella. The company has signed a strategic partnership agreement with French molten-salt reactor developer Naarea, aimed at promoting the development of MSRs in Europe. Stellaria, another CEA spin-off, has also announced that it has received funding under France 2030 for its highly compact chloride salt reactor project, capable of using a wide range of nuclear fuels. These initiatives mark a significant step towards the realization of a new generation of nuclear reactors in Europe, in line with the objectives of the France 2030 plan for clean, sustainable energy.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Dangote refinery forced to suspend gasoline production for several weeks
Trump administration moves to revoke Avangrid permits for offshore wind off Massachusetts
United States clears Rio Grande and Commonwealth LNG toward final decisions
Renaissance Dam could generate $1bn annual revenues for Ethiopia
ScottishPower halts green hydrogen projects despite public funding
TVA and ENTRA1 seal historic agreement for 6 GW of SMR reactors in the United States
The Tennessee Valley Authority partners with ENTRA1 Energy to develop up to 6 gigawatts of modular nuclear capacity, in an unprecedented project supporting energy growth across seven U.S. states.
IAEA: Iran held 440.9 kg at 60% before Israeli strikes
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
Westinghouse strengthens UK supply chain for nuclear reactors
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear secures $1.25mn contract for KRONOS MMR microreactor
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMRâ„¢ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends two nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom until March 2028
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Rosatom prepares new nuclear projects in India and Turkey
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
Uranium traces detected in Syria at site linked to former Israeli airstrike
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.
Norway launches assessment process for two nuclear projects
Norwegian authorities begin the first regulatory phase for two modular nuclear reactor projects, marking a strategic step in the national review of the potential role of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.
India accelerates its nuclear program to join the global top 5
With eleven reactors under construction and major projects such as Jaitapur, India is preparing a nuclear build-up that could place it among the world’s five leading nations in the sector.
Paris and Berlin agree on an energy roadmap including nuclear power
France and Germany have validated a joint energy roadmap, including a commitment to the non-discrimination of nuclear energy in European financing.
Putin and Pezeshkian to discuss Iranian nuclear program under European pressure
Russia and Iran seek to strengthen their nuclear cooperation as the E3 activates the sanctions mechanism against Tehran, reigniting tensions over compliance with the 2015 Vienna agreement.
Natura Resources secures federal and Texas backing for molten salt reactor
US-based Natura Resources has secured strategic funding and key permits for its MSR-1 nuclear reactor, backed by public funds and enriched fuel allocation from the Department of Energy.
Seoul and Washington open talks on nuclear fuel reprocessing
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
AP1000 reactor certification extended in the US until 2046
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.
Nano Nuclear partners with Dioxitek to strengthen Argentina’s nuclear supply chain
Nano Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dioxitek, Argentina’s only uranium supplier for nuclear fuel, to assess the development of local conversion and enrichment capacities.
Sweden lifts uranium mining ban to revive nuclear industry
Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.
CEA considers deploying a small Calogena nuclear reactor in Cadarache
The French Atomic Energy Commission has signed a letter of intent with start-up Calogena to study the installation of a 30 MW thermal small nuclear reactor at its Cadarache site.
Guidehouse forecasts $8.1 billion revenues for modular reactors by 2034
A Guidehouse Research report anticipates strong growth in the global nuclear modular reactor market, with revenues rising from $375.8 million in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2034.
Several South Korean groups back $50bn nuclear projects in the United States
KHNP, Doosan, POSCO and Samsung C&T join US partners to develop 5 GW of modular reactors, expand uranium enrichment and build an 11 GW energy complex in Texas.
Washington activates Defense Production Act to secure enriched uranium
The US Department of Energy is creating an industrial consortium to accelerate domestic enriched uranium production and reduce reliance on foreign imports ahead of the Russian supply ban in 2027.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.