Exploring the safety and performance of molten salt reactors for their deployment in the European Union: the MIMOSA and ENDURANCE projects
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Molten Salt Reactors (MSR) are Generation IV nuclear systems in which the fuel is dissolved in a molten salt circulating through the primary system. There is growing interest in this advanced technology in Europe, but also in the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, due to their inherently high safety level, flexibility, reliability, load-following capabilities, and potential for multi-recycling of materials contained in light-water reactors’ spent nuclear fuels. These advantages could position MSRs as ideal complements to other decarbonized energy sources in a future sustainable energy mix. In this respect, it is probably one of the most promising advanced technologies and, at the same time, the least mature and studied one. Two ongoing EURATOM-funded projects, MIMOSA and ENDURANCE projects are exploring molten salt reactors’ safety and performance features, as well as fuel cycle aspects, in order to assess and demonstrate their potential for future deployment in Europe. The MIMOSA and ENDURANCE projects have the common objective of improving the maturity of MSR technology. The MIMOSA project develops and analyses multi-recycling strategies for the European Union based on the use of MSR and demonstrates several key aspects of their technical feasibility and performance by both calculations and experimental investigations. The ENDURANCE project supports the safe operation and the development of Critical Technology Elements by connecting design developers and industry with universities and research centres while ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements. Whereas ENDURANCE is in its starting phase, MIMOSA has already delivered important results.
DOI: 10.1051/epjn/2025026
Authors: Isabelle Morlaes, Stefano Lorenzi, Sophie Deanesi, Anna L. Smith, Dirk C. Visser, Evzen Losa, Jaén A. Ocádiz Flores, Elisa Capelli, Sylvie Delpech, Ondrej Beneš, Pavel Souček, Elisabeth Guillaut, Luc Van den Durpel, Sandra Dulla, Louiliam Clot, Elsa Merle, Axel Laureau, Lydie Giot, Nathalie Girault, Jean M. Hamy, Jiri Krepel, Pablo Rubiolo, Corina Marozzi
Institutions: Orano (France), Politecnico di Milano, Delft University of Technology, Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group, Research Centre Rez, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules, Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Biologie des Plantes et Innovation, Politecnico di Torino, Institut polytechnique de Grenoble, Université Grenoble Alpes, IMT Atlantique, Nantes Université, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Framatome (France), Paul Scherrer Institute, Arttic (France)
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $565
OpenAlex ID: W4411835751