Emerald Horizon and VDL Groep Initiate Construction of SMRX Heart

Emerald Horizon AG and VDL Groep have begun building the Small Modular Reactor SMRX in Eindhoven, Netherlands. This collaboration marks a significant step from laboratory to industrial production. CEO Florian Wagner highlighted the importance of using existing high-precision plants to save time and capital, accelerating market entry. VDL's role includes providing engineering, manufacturing, and financial network access to scale up the project.

The SMRX system, a thorium-based energy source, will operate at temperatures up to 900°C, offering a sustainable energy solution. The partnership aims to refine design for industrial production, addressing challenges like corrosion control and material selection, ensuring reliability and scalability.

The roadmap includes a fully integrated prototype by 2029 and series production from 2031, with Austria focusing on non-nuclear technologies due to local regulations. This venture is a stride toward advancing European technological sovereignty in nuclear energy.