Turning Waste into Energy and More – With Accelerated Thorium-LFR Technology

Speaker: Guido Houben (Director Germany, Transmutex SA)

A New Kind of Alchemy?

What if nuclear waste wasn’t the problem—but the solution?

At binding.energy 2025, Guido Houben presented Transmutex’s groundbreaking vision: an integrated system that transmutes long-lived nuclear waste into short-lived elements while generating carbon-free, reliable power. The core of this idea combines:

Thorium-based fuels
Sub-critical Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs)
Particle accelerators to initiate reactions

“We are not just building another reactor. We are building a platform for clean-up and energy at the same time.”

→ 🎥 Watch the full keynote now←

What Is Nuclear Waste Transmutation?

Transmutation is the process of converting long-lived isotopes into more stable or shorter-lived ones. Transmutex’s approach focuses on:

Minor actinides like americium and curium
Fission product reduction
Eliminating plutonium stockpiles
Creating energy during the process

This is enabled by a combination of accelerator-driven systems (ADS) and thorium fuel cycles.

How the Transmutex System Works

Houben outlined the company’s architecture:

A high-current proton accelerator generates neutrons
These neutrons sustain a sub-critical nuclear reaction in an LFR
The reactor burns thorium and nuclear waste simultaneously
The process produces heat and transmutation of actinides

“The system is inherently safe—there is no chain reaction without the beam.”

How Transmutex Combines Key Technologies

Component	Function	Benefit
Proton Accelerator	Injects neutrons into the core	Beam-stopped = reaction-stopped → inherent safety
Lead Fast Reactor (LFR)	Hosts sub-critical thorium + waste reaction	Fast neutron spectrum enables transmutation
Thorium Fuel	Base load + fertile fuel for U-233 production	Abundant, low proliferation risk
Spent Fuel Waste	Acts as part of the fuel mix	Reduces high-level waste burden

Infobox: What Makes Transmutex Different?

Transmutex vs. Traditional Nuclear Approaches

No sustained chain reaction – sub-critical design powered by accelerator
Designed to consume plutonium, americium, curium
Minimal long-term waste – targets high-level waste cleanup
Lead coolant – chemically inert, high boiling point, radiation resistant
Scalable modular reactor concept

Thorium’s Role in the Cycle

Transmutex combines thorium with legacy waste for two reasons:

Thorium-232 absorbs neutrons → becomes fissile U-233
Thorium enables a more complete burn-up and less toxic waste profile

This fits into the EU’s push for diverse fuel cycles, waste minimization, and non-proliferation compliance.

Strategic Impact on the Energy Landscape

Guido Houben positioned Transmutex as a dual-impact platform:

Impact Domain	Contribution
🇪🇺 EU Waste Legacy	Closing the loop on plutonium and MA waste from Gen-II/III reactors
⚡ Energy Security	Baseload energy independent of gas imports or weather
🌱 Sustainability	Reduced environmental burden, long-term waste stabilization
🧪 Innovation	Integration of accelerator and reactor tech at commercial scale

The company estimates its technology could eliminate 90% of actinide toxicity in spent fuel from legacy reactors across Europe.

Industrialization Timeline

Transmutex is actively working on:

Technology validation with PSI & CERN
Licensing and industrial partnerships
Launching a pilot system by 2030
Full commercial deployment planned by mid-2030s

“We’re not here to build a lab project. We’re here to build a solution.”

Nuclear Cleanup with Power Potential

Transmutex represents a rare fusion of visionary science and practical deployment. The idea of accelerated transmutation reactors is no longer confined to academic theory—it’s now part of the commercial energy discussion.

And if they succeed, we may one day look at legacy nuclear waste not as a liability, but as a second chance for clean energy.

→ Reserve your seat at binding.energy ←