Copenhagen Atomics has a bold answer to the question haunting the global energy transition:
How can we scale nuclear energy without massive infrastructure, cost, or delays?
At binding.energy 2025, Tobias Ravn Thomsen presented a disruptive approach:
mass-manufactured, modular thorium reactors, designed to fit inside standard shipping containers, and built to consume nuclear waste while delivering low-cost, reliable, clean power.
“We don’t want to build one reactor every five years. We want to build thousands.”
Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are a liquid-fueled fission technology with several advantages:
Use thorium instead of enriched uranium
Operate at atmospheric pressure
Enable continuous reprocessing of fuel
Offer inherent passive safety
Can burn long-lived nuclear waste
Unlike conventional reactors, MSRs don’t need pressurized water systems or large containment domes. The fuel and coolant are the same liquid, which means simpler systems and safer operation.
Tobias Ravn Thomsen outlined the key motivations behind Copenhagen Atomics’ focus on thorium-based MSRs:
Thorium is abundant, especially in India, Turkey, Norway, and the U.S.
It produces less long-lived transuranic waste
It allows for proliferation-resistant operation
When paired with molten salt, it enables continuous burning of fissile material
The company’s MSR design is capable of operating on:
Thorium-232
Uranium-233
Recycled plutonium or spent nuclear fuel
| Feature | Conventional Reactor | Thorium MSR (Copenhagen Atomics) |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Uranium-235 | Thorium-232 / Recycled Actinides |
| Operating Pressure | High (Pressurized) | Atmospheric |
| Safety Mechanism | Active systems + pressure vessel | Passive, freeze plug drain system |
| Fuel Cycle | Batch, long-term waste | Online reprocessing, reduced waste |
Perhaps the most groundbreaking idea from Copenhagen Atomics is its commitment to mass manufacturing.
💡 Everything fits inside ISO containers
🏭 Factory-built, not constructed on-site
🔄 Plug-and-play replacement modules
🌍 Easy transport, deployment & decommissioning
“We want to build reactors the way Boeing builds airplanes.”
The company’s target is to have its first full-scale demonstrator operational by 2025, followed by a ramp-up to hundreds of units per year.
Copenhagen Atomics designs their reactors not just for national utilities, but also for:
🏝️ Island grids & remote mining operations
🏗️ Industrial heat production
🚰 Desalination & water purification
🧪 Isotope production for medicine & industry
The scalability and low operational cost make MSRs attractive even in regions without a centralized nuclear programme.
Despite the engineering progress, Thomsen acknowledged the non-technical hurdles:
Licensing frameworks are not yet adapted to modular reactors
Public perception remains a challenge for all nuclear technologies
Global supply chains need to support high-purity materials for salt systems
Workforce development for operators, maintainers, inspectors
Copenhagen Atomics works closely with Danish and international authorities to streamline approvals and build trust.
Copenhagen Atomics’ approach is a radical break from tradition. It doesn’t aim to build one perfect reactor — it wants to build thousands of good-enough ones, distributed around the world, solving energy and waste challenges simultaneously.
“Nuclear is not slow or expensive—it’s just not built the right way. Yet.”
ACTIMONDO ® 2025.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This site is not a part of the Facebook™ website or Facebook™ Inc. Additionally, this site is NOT endorsed by Facebook™ in any way. FACEBOOK™ is a trademark of FACEBOOK™, Inc.
