Energy Solutions Forum Presents Kirk Sorensen

The Future of Clean Energy: Throium and the Promise of Liquid Fluoride Reactors

Join us for the October installment of the Energy Solutions Forum Series featuring Kirk Sorensen, a leading voice in advanced nuclear energy and founder of FLIBE Energy. Sorensen will discuss the innovative potential of liquid fluoride thorium reactors (LFTRs)—a transformative approach to nuclear power that promises enhanced safety, reduced waste, and abundant, sustainable energy. With decades of experience in aerospace and nuclear engineering, Sorensen brings deep insight into how thorium-based technologies can reshape the global energy landscape.

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with one of the foremost advocates for next-generation nuclear solutions and learn how FLIBE Energy is working to redefine what's possible in clean energy development.

Kirk Sorensen is the founder, President, and Chief Technologist of Flibe Energy, a company dedicated to the development of liquid-fluoride thorium reactors (LFTRs)—an innovative nuclear technology aimed at providing safer, cleaner, and more efficient energy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Utah State University, a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and later earned a Master’s in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Sorensen began his career at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in 2000, where he worked for a decade on advanced propulsion systems. During that time, he also collaborated with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In 2010, he joined Teledyne Brown Engineering as Chief Nuclear Technologist and served as a visiting instructor of nuclear engineering at Tennessee Technological University.

His interest in thorium reactors began around 2006, when he rediscovered LFTR technology—a molten-salt reactor concept originally developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1960s. Disappointed that the technology had been abandoned, Sorensen became a leading public advocate for thorium energy. In 2011, he co-founded Flibe Energy, named after the molten salt mixture FLiBe (a combination of lithium and beryllium fluorides), to develop LFTR technology for commercial use. At Flibe, he leads all reactor development and has spearheaded conceptual design work, including a notable industry study for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

This talk is part of a series designed to bring together leading researchers across disciplines in science, engineering and business to advance understanding of solutions-focused topics relating to climate and energy.

Parking is available in the Brian Whalen Parking Complex (on Virgina Street near Lawlor).

Visit our website for more information about the series and its past speakers.

Info: Coffee will be served, so come a bit early and get a cup and a good seat.

Info: Kirk Sorensen's presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

Info: Engage with other guests in solutions-focused discussions during a reception.

Host or Publisher College of Science