Thorizon and Storabelle are excited to announce a partnership to advance carbon-free, flexible power solutions based on the same powerful ingredient: molten salt.
The Franco-Dutch deep tech nuclear energy startup and French energy storage innovator have joined forces to advance the development of flexible, carbon-free energy solutions powered by molten salt technology. Storabelle brings an innovative thermal energy storage solution, while Thorizon is pioneering a next-generation small modular reactor (SMR). Together, they offer a unique combination of flexible power and industrial heat, addressing critical energy transition challenges and enhancing the competitiveness of European industry.
Ambitious start-ups with a lot in common
Both Thorizon and Storabelle are leveraging molten salt technology—a proven solution used for over 30 years in concentrated solar power systems. Capable of storing heat at temperatures near 600°C for days with minimal energy loss, molten salt offers a game-changing approach to balancing power grids and supporting industrial decarbonization. As ambitious start-ups supported by the France 2030 grant program, Thorizon and Storabelle collaborate closely with the renowned French research institute CEA to drive innovation and deployment.
Thorizon’s molten salt reactor (MSR) efficiently generates heat, providing an inherently safe nuclear power source with an improved waste profile and competitive costs. Storabelle’s thermal energy storage system captures and retains this heat, releasing it at the most valuable moment to optimize electricity generation and industrial processes. Together, these technologies offer a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solution for utilities and energy-intensive industries, seamlessly complementing baseload nuclear and renewable energy sources.
Scope of cooperation
As part of this strategic collaboration, Thorizon and Storabelle will:
- Develop an integrated market offering and joint approach for industrial energy users.
- Collaborate on designing the conventional plant infrastructure, including a salt-to-salt heat exchanger and flexible power output solutions.
- Define a compelling customer value proposition and business case for flexible energy solutions.
- Explore joint efforts in developing a molten salt test loop to advance technology readiness.
Pioneering solutions
Frédéric Pierucci, Co-founder of Storabelle, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We look forward to working alongside the Thorizon team to develop a shared proposition centered around molten salt technology. This European collaboration expands our reach to industrial energy consumers. The Netherlands, with its strong reliance on renewables, presents a particularly promising market for our flexible energy storage solutions.”
Laure Claquin, COO of Thorizon, added: “We are highly impressed by Storabelle’s know-how and technological solution. Through our engagements with industrial end-users and utilities, we recognize a strong demand for flexible power solutions. By integrating our molten salt reactor technology with Storabelle’s energy storage, we can deliver a highly competitive and scalable solution to meet evolving energy needs.”
Thorizon
Thorizon, originally a spin-off from NRG, is now an ambitious deep-tech startup with offices in Amsterdam and Lyon. The company sees small modular nuclear reactors as an ideal, stable, and clean complement to an energy system increasingly reliant on wind and solar power. Thorizon is developing a “walk-away safe” molten salt reactor that uses long-lived nuclear waste as fuel, taking a step toward circularity. The company is working on reactor design and system prototypes, with plans to begin constructing its first reactor, Thorizon One, around 2030. Thorizon collaborates with industry leaders such as Orano, Tractebel, VDL, and EDF, and its project has been selected by the European Commission and the French government under the France 2030 investment plan.
