Generating nuclear energy without uranium could mean safer reactors and less risk of technology being used to make atomic bombs. An increasing number of scientists are saying it's possible by replacing uranium with a known and readily available element called thorium. At this research institute in Grenoble in the French Alps, scientists are working to develop a new kind of nuclear reactor fuelled by thorium dissolved in a mixture of molten salts. Thorium is a widely available element that on the face of it presents far fewer problems than uranium. Molten salt reactors are a totally new concept compared to current reactors. They present many possibilities, but clearly there's a lot of research to do. Scientists have known of thorium's ability to fuel nuclear reactors for over 50 years. It occurs in mineral form in most parts of the world and is easier to convert into reactor fuel than naturally-occurring uranium. But in the Cold War years after World War II, thorium technology was overshadowed by uranium-based systems that could be used for both civil and military purposes. But today, following the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe and, most recently, last year's disaster at Fukushima in Japan, interest in thorium is on the rise again. The scientists say one of the advantages of their thorium reactor is that it has a liquid fuel that would also serve as the reactor's coolant. It's impossible to lose cooling without losing the heat source because it's the same thing, the salt fuel. So the fuel can't remain in the core while the coolant drains away. There are also advantages when it comes to ensuring that countries don't use nuclear power plants to make atomic bombs, a serious concern with uranium-based reactors. Converting a reactor like this to make a bomb... I think there are many much simpler ways of doing that. I don't say it's impossible, because someone could add some uranium-238. It would be visible and very, very complex. Impossible, in my opinion. Research into these new reactors is still at an early stage. Scientists say a small demonstration plant won't be ready until at least 2040. That will only happen if governments and industry give serious backing to the plans. The world's biggest nuclear power producer, Électricité de France, declined our request for an interview, but sent an email outlining their priorities for future development of nuclear power and thorium was not high on the list. EDF said its main priority was to develop a new generation of fast breeder reactors that use solid fuels based on uranium. Back in Grenoble, the scientists warn that if companies like EDF don't develop thorium technology, their competitors certainly will. At the moment, molten salt reactors are specific to France and Europe. I think it's important to keep this leadership. In sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors, China, India and also Japan are increasing their expertise. Many ecologists argue that any efforts to develop nuclear power are a mistake and a waste of money. Greenpeace campaigners recently broke into a number of nuclear power stations in France to highlight security flaws. They say energy research should concentrate on renewable technology like solar or wind power. The greatest energy potential on Earth is in renewable energies. Clearly we believe in the future of these renewable technologies which can satisfy the world's needs. If you take only the sun which strikes the world's deserts more or less 365 days per year, you have enough energy to supply the whole planet. But other experts say this kind of talk is unrealistic and irresponsible. They say if we're serious about tackling greenhouse gas emissions nuclear power must be part of the mix. For the future of the human race on the planet the priority really must be the climate. We must use everything we can to limit greenhouse gas emissions. We're not doing so at the moment. Nuclear power is one component in doing that. Love it or loathe it, nuclear energy looks like it's here to stay, at least for the time being. Whether electricity will one day be generated in plants powered by thorium remains to be seen.
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