Geneva-based Transmutex has been awarded USD 4.2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) as part of the NEWTON program. The funding will support a project at Los Alamos to develop technologies that transform long-lived radioactive waste into shorter-lived isotopes, addressing a critical challenge in nuclear waste management.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s NEWTON program, with a total allocation of USD 40 million across 11 projects, aims to revolutionize the treatment of used nuclear fuel (UNF). Through nuclear transmutation, long-lived radioactive isotopes are converted into shorter-lived ones, reducing their hazardous lifetimes from a million years to a few hundred. This breakthrough could shift nuclear waste disposal from an intergenerational issue to one that can be addressed within decades.
Transmutex, founded in 2019 by former CERN physicists, received the second-largest grant under the program for its project titled “Highly Reliable Ion Source and Injection Beamline to Maximize Proton Beam Availability.” The company focuses on advancing technologies for nuclear waste transmutation, including accelerator-driven systems (ADS) and fast neutron reactors, which promise safer, more efficient waste management.
At Los Alamos, Transmutex will enhance a commercial ion source, aiming to achieve the reliability needed for efficient accelerator operation. The project will involve extensive engineering improvements, rigorous testing, and advanced data analysis to monitor and optimize performance.
“The goal is to significantly reduce the environmental and safety challenges posed by long-lived radioactive waste,” the company stated in its press release.
Collaboration with leading institutions
The project involves collaboration with notable partners, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Maryland, Viam, and TechSource, Inc. This partnership underscores Transmutex’s commitment to leveraging global expertise to address nuclear energy challenges.
Transmutex’s work aligns with its broader mission to revolutionize nuclear energy by combining innovative technology with environmental responsibility. The NEWTON project builds on the company’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a leader in clean and sustainable energy solutions, with a focus on reducing the environmental footprint of nuclear power.
