Natura MSR-1: The first molten salt nuclear reactor ever licensed by US NRC

Good news! We need a lot more nuclear power! Unfortunately, this is only a research reactor of a university!

"A molten salt reactor (MSR) is a type of nuclear reactor that uses a molten salt mixture as a coolant and/or fuel. MSRs are considered a promising advanced reactor technology due to their safety and efficiency advantages." (Google search)

"The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted Abilene Christian University (ACU) the construction permit for an advanced nuclear reactor called the Natura MSR-1.

This is the first liquid salt-fueled reactor ever licensed by the NRC and the first university research reactor approved in the US in over 30 years. ...

Natura Resources brought together ACU’s NEXT Lab with Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin and Georgia Institute of Technology to form the Natura Resources Research Alliance to license and deploy the MSRR, which will be located at ACU’s Dillard Science and Engineering Research Center, the nation’s first advanced reactor demonstration facility outside of a national lab. ..."

Natura MSR-1: 1st molten salt nuclear reactor ever licensed by US NRC "The new technology aims to meet global demands for energy, medical isotopes, and clean water using molten salt reactors."

NRC issues construction permit for Natura Resources molten salt reactor at ACU

Credits: Human Progress weekly newsletter

A cutaway of the MSR-1 research reactor (Image: Natura Resources) (Source)