Welcome

Established in September 2011, the Weinberg Foundation is a UK-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the research, development and deployment of safe, clean and affordable nuclear energy technologies to combat climate change and underpin sustainable development for the world. The Foundation operates out of Somerset House in central London.

OUR AIM

Whilst we support the development of all clean energy technologies, including safer ‘Gen IV’ nuclear reactors, our core objective is to rapidly re-catalyse the research, development and deployment of molten salt reactors (MSRs), first designed, built and proven by Alvin Weinberg at Oak Ridge National Laboratories in the 1960s. In 1974 Alvin’s research into the huge advantages of thorium-fuelled MSRs was cut short by political considerations, robbing the world of a breakthrough in clean energy technology. At this critical juncture in the emerging climate and energy crises, our top priorities are to support the development of thorium energy and to place thorium-fuelled MSRs on the agenda of the public, businesses and governments around the world, for the benefit of the world.

OUR APPROACH

We are a non-partisan, diverse group of people with one thing in common: we care deeply about the pivotal role of energy technology in stopping climate change and creating a better world.We have no vested interest, commercial or otherwise, in any specific energy technology. We are an evidence-based organisation committed to upholding the principles of sound science in everything we do. We want to inspire the world with a vision of what is possible through human ingenuity, rather than limit our horizons to what has already been done. We are not all technologists, but we do work with and are advised by many of the world’s most influential energy and climate change scientists in seeking to cultivate the political will to drive the uptake of molten salt reactors fuelled by thorium.We believe that the achievement of Alvin Weinberg’s vision of safe, clean and peaceful nuclear power depends on active collaboration, partnership and debate between scientists, governments, industry and the general public around the world. We strive to facilitate this dialogue, which will be one of the defining energy conversations of the 21st century.WHAT WE DOWe work with NGOs, policy-makers, researchers and industry to lead the debate on the potential of thorium in general and molten salt reactors in particular. Our key activities include:

Public education and outreach: We aim to openly and honestly increase public awareness of the benefits of thorium and molten salt reactors. Since our inception we have given talks and presentations at many public events around the world.

Engaging policy-makers in the UK and beyond: As part of our goal of placing thorium and molten salt reactors at the centre of the energy debate, we have met many policy-makers to raise their awareness of the potential of thorium and MSRs and provide them with impartial briefing papers and presentations when asked.

Engaging students, academics and other researchers: We believe it is vital to inspire the next generation of nuclear engineers and are working with universities and other global research institutes to raise their awareness of thorium and molten-salt reactors.

Engaging industry: As the locus of most of the world’s nuclear energy expertise, the nuclear industry will be crucial to the research, development and deployment of thorium and molten salt reactors. We believe it is essential to discuss the industry’s existing constraints and strengths in order to spark a revival of industry-backed research into innovative nuclear energy systems.

Providing impartial information to the media: The Weinberg Foundation is always able and willing to discuss thorium, molten salt reactors and other forms of innovative nuclear reactors with interested journalists. We are able to provide information, comment and analysis to the media.

“ The world desperately needs sustainable, low carbon energy to address climate change while lifting people out of poverty. Thorium fuelled reactors, such as the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) pioneered by the late Alvin Weinberg, could radically change perceptions of nuclear power leading to widespread deployment. ”

-Baroness Worthington, Patron

The Weinberg Foundation in the media

New Parliamentary Group Formed to Consider Thorium, Energy from Thorium, 1^st March 2012

New All-Party Parliamentary Group on Thorium, The Thorium Energy Association, 1^st March 2012

New life for forgotten fuel, Financial Times Magazine, 23rd September 2011

Thorium Advocates Launch Pressure Group, The Guardian, 9^th September 2011

New Thorium Group Calls for ‘World Class’ R&D at Sellafield, NucNet, 8^th September 2011

Launching the Weinberg Foundation, International Thorium Energy Organisation, 31^st August 2011

Press releases

ThEC12, Shanghai, 25 October 2012: “Weinberg leads thorium march to China” (PDF)
Launch of the Weinberg Foundation, 8th September 2011: “Weinberg Foundation to heat up campaign for safe, green, nuclear energy” (PDF)

Launch of the APPG on Thorium Energy, 1st March 2012: “All-Party Parliamentary Group on Thorium Energy launched to drive the agenda for safer, cleaner thorium-fuelled nuclear power” (PDF)