Thorizon, EPZ, NRG PALLAS, provinces and investors sign MoU to build Europe's first commercial molten salt reactor in the Netherlands

Amsterdam, 16 April 2026 – Thorizon, EPZ, NRG PALLAS, the Provinces of Zeeland and Noord-Holland, Impuls Zeeland, ROM InWest and Invest-NL have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build Europe's first commercial molten salt reactor in the Netherlands. The MoU increases the activities for the non-nuclear demonstrator in Zeeland, secures a site for the Thorizon PIONEER nuclear demonstrator at NRG PALLAS in Noord-Holland, and advances the validation of a site for Thorizon One, the first commercial molten salt reactor, in Zeeland. With this coalition in place, Thorizon moves from development into deployment, with the demonstrator reactor operating in 2030 while targeting the first commercial reactor on the European grid by 2034.

A coalition anchored in Zeeland and Noord-Holland

Thorizon has together with EPZ, operator of the Netherlands' only commercial nuclear power plant at Borssele, completed a pre-feasibility assessment validating the suitability of the Borssele site and EPZ has joined this coalition to investigate becoming the owner, licensee and operator of the Thorizon One. NRG PALLAS, the leading Dutch nuclear research institute and medical isotope developer based in Petten, will provide the site for the PIONEER demonstrator and intends to become its owner, licensee and operator.

The Provinces of Zeeland and Noord-Holland are committed to supporting permitting and licensing and to actively engaging stakeholders in their regions. Regional development agencies Impuls Zeeland and ROM InWest have both expressed their intention to co-invest directly in Thorizon, alongside their role in anchoring the roadmap in the economic ecosystem of their respective regions. Invest-NL, which has supported Thorizon since 2022, reaffirms its intention to continue financial backing into this next and decisive phase of development.

Johan Aalberts, Deputy of Zeeland for Energy Transition: ‘’If realized, hosting Europe’s first commercial molten salt reactor would mark a major milestone for the Province of Zeeland. It would firmly position our region at the forefront of next-generation nuclear energy, strengthen our energy security, and create new opportunities for high-skilled jobs and industrial innovation.’’

Esther Rommel, Deputy Noord-Holland for Economic Affairs: “With this collaboration, we are taking an important step in the further development of nuclear knowledge and innovation in the Netherlands. For North Holland, the possible realization of a demonstration reactor at the Energy & Health Campus in Petten is particularly important. The existing knowledge and infrastructure makes Petten a logical location for the further development of this technology. At the same time, this will strengthen the nuclear ecosystem around the campus and create new opportunities for businesses, research, and employment in the region.”

Phased roadmap to the first commercial reactor by 2034

The MoU sets out three milestones for Thorizon on the path to Europe's first commercial molten salt reactor:

- 2027: Realization of a non-nuclear molten salt test facility and the launch of the Thorizon PILOT program in Zeeland, together with Schelde Exotech and in Noord-Brabant, together with VDL Groep.

- 2028: Construction of the Thorizon PIONEER nuclear demonstrator at NRG PALLAS in Petten, Noord-Holland, designed to be the first nuclear molten salt installation to operate in Europe.

- 2034: Realization of the Thorizon One, a 100 MWe first commercial molten salt reactor in Zeeland, the first of its kind in Europe.

Thorizon, together with its partners, will pursue EIB financing for Thorizon One and IPCEI support for the PIONEER demonstrator, alongside private co-investment from new strategic investors.

A landmark for Dutch energy and industrial leadership

The Thorizon One molten salt reactor is not a smaller version of existing nuclear technology. It is a fundamentally different reactor: low pressure, liquid fuel, inherently safe by physics, and capable of delivering both 100 MWe of carbon-free electricity and high-temperature industrial heat at 550 degrees Celsius. Its modular design lowers construction cost and complexity. It is designed to run on high level nuclear waste, material that Europe already holds in sufficient quantities to supply energy for decades, making it a powerful step towards true circularity in the nuclear fuel cycle and European energy sovereignty.

For the Netherlands, the project delivers on multiple national priorities simultaneously. It strengthens domestic energy security by producing competitive, carbon-free energy directly at the point of use, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and foreign technology. It anchors an autonomous nuclear supply chain across Zeeland, Noord-Holland and Noord-Brabant, with manufacturing and engineering partners including VDL Groep, Schelde Exotech and Delmeco already engaged. And it builds a world-class nuclear innovation ecosystem connecting NRG PALLAS, TU Delft, TNO, DIFFER, Scalda and HZ University of Applied Sciences around the development, testing and deployment of next-generation reactor technology. Cumulative investment in the roadmap is expected to grow to over one billion euros, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and establishing the Netherlands as Europe's leading hub for advanced nuclear manufacturing and innovation. The project is recognized as a flagship initiative for Dutch competitiveness in the Wennink report and is fully aligned with the national SMR strategy.

Franco-Dutch cooperation at the heart of European energy sovereignty

Thorizon is a Franco-Dutch company by design, with offices in Amsterdam and Lyon and a development program built on deep cross-border collaboration formalized under the Franco-Dutch Innovation Pact. France is the world's most experienced builder of nuclear reactors, having constructed over 50 plants during the previous energy crisis, and is now leading a national nuclear relaunch under the France 2030 innovative reactor program. As part of that strategy, the French government has tasked CEA and Orano with advancing fuel cycle closure, making the Thorizon PIONEER demonstrator directly relevant to French national nuclear policy. Partnerships with Orano on fuel development and CEA on advanced materials and reactor chemistry bring the full depth of French nuclear expertise into the program.

This collaboration reflects a deliberate strategy to build a sovereign European value chain for advanced nuclear energy that no single country could create alone. France brings fuel cycle mastery, nuclear engineering depth and world-class research infrastructure. The Netherlands brings high-tech manufacturing capability, two committed nuclear sites and a growing innovation ecosystem. Together they are assembling the complete chain from fuel production and reactor design to manufacturing, licensing and deployment. At the European level, Thorizon is one of eight prioritized projects within the EU Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors, positioning the Franco-Dutch collaboration among the leading initiatives shaping Europe's next-generation nuclear landscape and its long-term energy sovereignty.

Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon: "Securing a site for the demonstrator, alongside strong progress toward the first commercial reactor in Zeeland, marks a defining milestone for Thorizon. With NRG PALLAS in Petten and EPZ in Borssele, we have two outstanding partners. This coalition gives us the foundation to move from development into deployment. We are grateful to all parties for their commitment and we look forward to making the first molten salt reactor in Europe a reality together."

Marco Muilenburg, CEO of EPZ: "EPZ has operated the Borssele site for over 50 years and is committed to playing a key role in the future of nuclear energy in the Netherlands. We look forward to exploring what a first-of-a-kind molten salt reactor at our site / in Zeeland could mean for our region, our country and the energy transition."

Maurits Wolleswinkel, CEO of NRG PALLAS: "NRG PALLAS has been a long-time leader in molten-salt applied research and we are proud that Thorizon became a spinoff. We are excited that we can now provide an opportunity to leverage our nuclear infrastructure and broad expertise to realise the Thorizon PIONEER Demonstrator at the Energy & Health Campus and contribute to CO2-free energy with minimum nuclear waste.”

Rinke Zonneveld, CEO of Invest-NL: "Since our initial investment in 2022, Thorizon has grown significantly in team, technology and partnerships. This MoU reflects the strength of the coalition now forming around the project. We intend to continue supporting Thorizon as it advances into this next and decisive phase of development."

Dick ten Voorde, CEO of Impuls Zeeland: “As investor from day one Impuls Zeeland fully supports Thorizon’s molten salt reactor roadmap. It will significantly strengthen the nuclear cluster in Zeeland, the Netherlands ánd Europe, and will contribute to carbon neutral electricity and high-temperature heat resources for process industry in the near future.”

Janet Nieboer, CEO of ROM InWest: “This milestone marks an important step forward in advancing the energy transition through safe and sustainable next-generation nuclear technology. It shows what is possible when entrepreneurship, strong partnerships and long-term commitment come together. By anchoring the PIONEER demonstrator at NRG PALLAS and the Energy & Health Campus Petten, we are scaling regional innovation to national and European impact. ROM InWest is proud to stand alongside Thorizon and will continue to support its journey to commercial deployment.”

About Thorizon

Thorizon, originally a spin-off from NRG, is an ambitious deep-tech scale-up with offices in Amsterdam and Lyon. The company develops small modular molten salt reactors designed to deliver clean, reliable energy at competitive cost. Its walk-away safe reactor operates at low pressure and uses long-lived nuclear waste as fuel, a step toward true circularity in nuclear energy. Thorizon collaborates with industry leaders such as Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Orano, VDL Groep, Tractebel, EPZ and NRG PALLAS. Its project has been selected by the European Commission and the French government under the France 2030 investment plan, and is recognized as a flagship project for Dutch competitiveness in the Wennink report.

About EPZ

EPZ in Borssele has been making electricity with nuclear energy for more than 50 years. The nuclear power plant, together with wind turbines and solar panels, make about 15% of all climate-neutral electricity in the Netherlands. Together, that is almost 4,000 GWh of climate-neutral electricity per year. Enough to provide almost all residents of Zeeland and North Brabant with climate-neutral electricity

EPZ wants to continue this for the next 50 years to make the energy transition a success. To provide plenty of safe, reliable and affordable climate-neutral electricity for next generations. Its long and rich experience helps make a bright climate-neutral future possible.

About NRG PALLAS

NRG PALLAS develops and delivers medical products and contributes to energy solutions. With the High Flux Reactor, medical isotopes are produced, and irradiation research is carried out on structural materials and nuclear fuels. NRG PALLAS provides services in the field of nuclear technology for the safe and reliable operation of reactors and nuclear facilities. The construction of the PALLAS reactor ensures that the availability of nuclear knowledge and the security of isotope supply for more than 30,000 patients a day are safeguarded.

About Invest-NL

Invest-NL is the National Promotional Institution of the Netherlands, committed to driving a sustainable, innovative and resilient future. We provide businesses, projects and funds with access to finance, enabling them to drive societal transitions, strengthen innovation capacity and enhance economic resilience.

As a system player, we connect innovative entrepreneurs, financiers, knowledge institutions, and governments - both in the Netherlands and abroad. Through capital, expertise and new financial instruments, we invest in the solutions of tomorrow. Where the market hesitates, we take the first step. That is how we create impact.

About ROM InWest

ROM InWest is the regional development agency of the Dutch province of North Holland. The team, consisting of some thirty driven professionals and with its office in Haarlem, supports entrepreneurs with innovations that contribute to societal transitions essential in the areas of food, energy, healthcare, the circular economy, and to a robust, sustainable, and social economy in North Holland. With various programs, ROM InWest helps these entrepreneurs to scale up their solution and make it investor ready. Next to helping businesses in finding external financing, ROM InWest also invests in these companies itself from the SME Fund and the Transition Fund. To provide knowledge and networks, ROM InWest collaborates extensively with regional partners.

About ROM Impuls Zeeland

Impuls is the regional development agency of Zeeland. As the regional development agency, we are committed to a future-proof region that can grow sustainably. We help entrepreneurs innovate, invest, and internationalize, and actively contribute to key transitions, themes, and sectors.

For more information about this press release, the parties involved and the underlying developments, please contact Coco Polderman at info@thorizon.com or +31 (0)6 2139 0708.