Thorium is a relatively unknown chemical element. But, could it change the way nuclear energy is produced?

‍What’s happening:‍

• Geneva, Switzerland based nuclear energy startup Transmutex has raised $23M USD in a new Series A financing round
  
• The round was led by Union Square Ventures and Steel Atlas
  

The big idea:‍

• Transmutex has developed a innovative new approach to producing sustainable nuclear energy through the use of thorium
  
• Their technology involves a particle accelerator that triggers a fission reaction with thorium, which is capable of being stopped immediately if needed and thereby reducing the risk of disasters or unintended hazardous waste
  
• When thorium is used as fuel with Transmutex’s technology, no plutonium or other long lived waste is produced whatsoever
  

Going deeper:‍

• Transmutex has multiple notable venture capital investors already, including Presight Capital, Verve Ventures, Hardware Club and others
  
• Thorium is significantly more abundantly available than uranium, but has never successfully found a way to be used in generating carbon free power
  
• Since safety concerns have been one of the largest obstacles preventing the global adoption of nuclear energy, Transmutex believes that leveraging thorium as a fuel source could unlock a new paradigm for building nuclear power infrastructure
  

By the numbers:‍

• A fission reaction with thorium can be stopped in less than 2 milliseconds if needed
  
• Transmutex believes their technology is capable of producing 200 gigawatts to 1 megawatt of carbon free base load power through modular installations

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