NTPC Partners with CCTE to Explore Thorium-Based Nuclear Energy Solutions

02 Jan 2025

India's largest power producer, NTPC Limited, said on Friday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with US-based Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) to explore the development and deployment of advanced nuclear energy for enriched life (ANEEL). ANEEL is a thorium-based fuel designed for pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), and the agreement is contingent upon approval from both governments, it stated.

The move is part of NTPC's strategy to expand into nuclear energy, positioning it as a clean, reliable, and stable source of power. "In line with its broader commitment to sustainability and energy security, NTPC is focused on forming collaborations, acquiring advanced technologies, and developing indigenous fuel sources," the company stated.

CCTE is a forefront innovator in thorium-based nuclear fuel technologies, dedicated to advancing research in next-generation nuclear fuel cycles. The company’s flagship ANEEL fuel blends thorium with a small proportion of enriched uranium.

The anticipated benefits of ANEEL fuel include the use of thorium as a fuel in existing PHWR reactors, a significant reduction in nuclear waste, strengthened energy security for India through the use of domestically available thorium, and enhanced safety and resistance to proliferation, according to the company.

It was also mentioned that ANEEL fuel provides cost savings by increasing energy output while maintaining existing safety margins, thereby reducing the operating costs of current reactors. NTPC and CCTE plan to work together on investigating the development and implementation of ANEEL fuel in India, according to a statement from NTPC.