Description

Thorium MSR - Nuclear power without the drawbacks. A lecture by Theo Wolters and Jan-Leen Kloosterman

In recent years, there seemed to be an incipient renaissance of nuclear power in the West, after 30 years of stagnation. The accident at the Fukushima plants put an abrupt end to that, and in most countries there is no longer political support for nuclear power as an option to reduce fossil fuel use in the coming years.

This has drawn attention to a hitherto underexposed nuclear option: the molten salt reactor fuelled by thorium. Its advantages are overwhelming, its disadvantages negligible:

- The MSR reactor produces 8000 times less waste than a conventional nuclear power plant, and can even run purely on its existing waste.
- No meltdown can occur.
- No radioactive gases can escape.
- The fuel and waste are not usable for nuclear weapons.
- Extractable thorium reserves are unlimited and distributed around the world.
- The technology is known and demonstrated in a reactor that has performed excellently for five years.

Thorium is "buzzing": in the last year there is almost no energy debate where the thorium option is not brought up by someone, but only a few then know what it is about.

- How does the thorium MSR reactor work?
- Why is it so much safer and more efficient than existing power plants?
- Is thorium MSR the solution to our energy problem?
- What is still standing in the way of a quick introduction?
- What is the Netherlands doing about thorium development?

You will get the answer to all burning questions on this important and topical subject at this lecture!

18.00-19.00 - Walk-in and drinks
19.00-20.00 - Dinner and coffee
20.00-22.00 - Lecture and discussion
22.00 - Progress discussion at the bar

Speaker(s)

Theo Wolters (Ir.), Owner engineering firm, blogger on energy, climate and politics

Jan-Leen Kloosterman (Prof.Dr.Ir.) reactor physicist, associate professor at TU-Delft, expert on nuclear energy and on making nuclear energy sustainable.

Location

Grandcafé Restaurant Engels - Rotterdam next to CS

Entrance A Groothandelsgebouw, lift to 7th floor

Organiser

Circle Rotterdam