Copenhagen Atomics and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) are collaborating to validate and gain experience with salt melt reactor technology, which could potentially provide a solution for future energy needs. The Swiss company is working on the principle of salts melting reactors, which have been in development for almost a decade. The technology uses fluoride salts containing lithium, thorium, and slightly enriched uranium as fuel, which can be manufactured in modules the size of a standard 40-foot container. According to Copenhagen Atomics, these reactors could potentially operate as breeder reactors with electricity generation costs of around $20 per megawatt hour.

The salts used in these reactors are capable of stable operation at temperatures up to 1400°C, which enables high efficiency and the ability to heat industrial processes at high temperatures. Additionally, the use of salt as a coolant and fuel carrier allows for much smaller reactor sizes compared to traditional gas-cooled reactors, reducing financial risk and potential radioactive released in case of an accident.

However, this new technology also poses new risks, such as strong corrosive properties that must be taken into account when designing coolant systems. The Swiss government has been cautious about allowing new nuclear power plants to be built, with a 2017 vote rejecting the construction of new atomic reactors. However, there are ongoing efforts to allow and build new nuclear power plants in Switzerland, and the government is reportedly considering such a scenario.

The collaboration between Copenhagen Atomics and PSI aims to gather data for commercial use and open-source data for validating reactor modeling tools. The experiments will focus on thorium fluoride salt melt reactors, which have already been prototyped in Copenhagen with original scale circulators. If successful, this technology could provide a sustainable solution for future energy needs while minimizing the risks associated with traditional nuclear power plants.