"The Transmutex concept has considerable potential."

Writing in the Swiss Academy of Science Magazine, Professor Andreas Pautz reviews positively the "considerable" potential of the Transmutex technology to fight climate change. He is responding to an earlier article authored by Professor Maurice Bourquin, member of Transmutex scientific committee, promoting thorium as the nuclear fuel of the future.

Specifically, he describes the advantages of Transmutex subcritical technology in terms of safety and its ability to effectively use thorium as nuclear fuel. The key advantage of thorium is that it does not produce plutonium or americium which generate high-heat in deep geological storage. If we are to expand nuclear power, as the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommends (see below scenario 3 or 4 which are the most credible today - figure SPM.3B), then we need to maximize valuable deep geological storage for long-lived waste.

Transmutex's technology will "burn" (transmute) at least 10x more plutonium and americium than any critical reactor. It will significantly reduce the stockpile of existing waste, and future waste, as nuclear energy expands to fight climate change.

Professor Pautz writes "(the) technology can play an important role in CO2-low-energy production and would, for example, fit perfectly into a pan-European nuclear energy concept with a circular economy for nuclear fuels, with quantities of long-lived waste reduced by orders of magnitude."

Here is the full access to Professor Pautz's article, together with the original article by Professor Bourquin.

Article by Professor Pautz: "This technology can contribute to a sustainable nuclear energy supply" (scnat.ch)

Article by Professor Bourquin: "Thorium awakens hope for a more relaxed climate future" (scnat.ch)

The United Nation's report on climate change estimates that nuclear power should be increased 500% if we are to limit rising temperature to 1.5C. The report dates from 2018, scenarios 3 or 4 are now the only credible scenarios.

LINK to the report - figure SPM.3b