The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) has signed a new research agreement with Kathaleen Wall ’90, co-owner of Texas Thorium LLC, on the new Thorium Research Initiative (TRI). Wall, along with co-owner Holly Frost, donated $5 million to support research geared toward advancing thorium-based nuclear technology.
The research initiative will be led by principal investigator Dr. Yassin Hassan from the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University, along with Dr. Sean McDeavitt and Dr. Lin Shao. The research in this initial project will focus on molten salt thorium systems. The TRI will perform studies to enable the design of a small modular reactor and a 10 to 30 MW test reactor fueled with thorium.
“We are excited to have the backing of someone like Kathaleen Wall, and her belief in our expertise in the field of nuclear engineering,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “With Ms. Wall’s generous donation, our researchers have the support they need to further their work in this emerging technology.”
“Thorium power has the promise of simpler, safer, cleaner and cheaper power than any other power source,” said Wall. “That’s the reason we’re doing this.”