Clean Core Thorium Energy, a Chicago-based company developing thorium-based nuclear fuel, says new tests hit a milestone in the element’s energy output being more efficient than uranium.
The company’s Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL) fuel reached a burn-up level of over 45 gigawatt-days per tonne in the advanced test reactor at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The level outpaces the capabilities of conventional nuclear fuels used in pressurized heavy water reactors and CANDU (Canada deuterium) reactors.
“This second burn-up milestone is a transformative moment for Clean Core and for the future of nuclear energy,” CEO Mehul Shah said in a news release. “ANEEL fuel is not just demonstrating superior technical performance — it’s proving that thorium-based solutions can meaningfully address global challenges of energy security, nuclear waste and proliferation.”
Thorium has been hailed as a safer and cheaper alternative to uranium in nuclear reactors while generating significantly more energy. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, thorium is three times more abundant in nature than uranium, but historically has found little use in power generation due to the significant economic and technical hurdles.
Financing
In February, the privately-held company raised a $15.5-million Series Seed round of financing to advance the ANEEL fuel — a patented blend of thorium and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) designed to be seamlessly deployed into existing reactors. It combines thorium with HALEU to offer a safer, more efficient, and proliferation-resistant alternative.
In May 2024, 12 ANEEL fuel rodlets achieved three burn-up level targets. The first successful irradiation of four rodlets surpassed 20 GWd/MTU last year, the company said. The second set of four rodlets exceeded 45 GWd/MTU — six to seven times the average discharge burn-up for reactors that are designed to use natural uranium fuel.
The company said these results reflect ANEEL fuel’s potential to redefine performance and sustainability standards in the nuclear industry.
“Our partnership with [the Idaho lab] is helping unlock a new era for advanced nuclear fuels,” Shah said.
Be the first to comment on "US startup makes thorium breakthrough"