Molten Salt Solutions Raises $3 Million
The race to harness next-generation nuclear energy just gained a powerful ally. Molten Salt Solutions, a New Mexico-based innovator, has secured $3 million in Seed funding from Future Ventures and True Ventures.
This investment propels the company’s mission to develop the first commercial-scale lithium isotope enrichment process, a breakthrough poised to address critical supply gaps in the nuclear and fusion energy sectors.
Lithium isotopes, often overlooked in discussions about clean energy, are the unsung heroes behind advanced reactors.
Enriched lithium-7 plays a pivotal role in molten salt reactors (MSRs), a promising alternative for greenhouse gas-free energy. By preventing the formation of radioactive tritium, lithium-7 ensures safer, more sustainable operation.
Meanwhile, lithium-6 enables tritium breeding in fusion reactors, a cornerstone for achieving nearly limitless energy production.
Despite their importance, no commercial source currently exists for enriched lithium isotopes.
Conventional methods fall short of industrial scalability, leaving a significant gap that Molten Salt Solutions is uniquely equipped to fill.
The company’s proprietary enrichment technology, developed with support from the National Science Foundation and Los Alamos National Laboratory, stands as a beacon of innovation in this niche but critical field.
“Our mission is to facilitate a clean energy future by addressing the critical materials needs of next-generation reactors,” said Dr. John Elling, CEO of Molten Salt Solutions. “We are grateful to our investors for their support and commitment to making advanced nuclear energy a reality.”
The broader implications of this work are profound. As molten salt reactors and fusion systems inch closer to commercial deployment, Molten Salt Solutions’ advancements promise to unlock their full potential.
The funding will enable the company to refine its technology and launch pilot production, a key step toward establishing itself as the go-to supplier for the advanced nuclear sector.
Maryanna Saenko, co-founder of Future Ventures, echoed the significance of this development:
“As believers that energy should be clean, abundant, and accessible to all, we're excited to be investors in Molten Salt Solutions. The company addresses a critical need for both fusion and fission systems by cost-effectively providing refined lithium, thereby solving a key issue in the industry.”
Molten Salt Solutions’ work also ties into the larger ecosystem of innovation in New Mexico. As a member of the New Mexico Fusion Igniter consortium, the company is part of a regional effort to accelerate fusion technology development.
This consortium, leveraging its proximity to national labs and research institutions, fosters breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing, AI, and energy technologies.
With its eyes firmly set on a cleaner energy horizon, Molten Salt Solutions is not just enriching lithium isotopes—it’s enriching the possibilities for a sustainable future.
