Venice exhibition includes model of Newcleo reactor

Monday, 12 May 2025

The interactive exhibit is a joint project by Paris-headquartered Newcleo, leading Italian design company Pininfarina, and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

"Combining technological vision, industrial expertise, and cutting-edge design, the three companies have collaborated to redefine the image of nuclear energy," Newcleo said. "Visitors are invited to reimagine their preconceptions of nuclear power as they embark on a highly interactive journey exploring the extraordinary potential of atomic fission in combating climate change and decarbonising human activities."

At the heart of the collaborative project, housed within Venice's historic Corderie dell'Arsenale, stands a full-scale reproduction of the TL-40 liquid lead-cooled reactor designed by Newcleo for powering large maritime vessels.

_{(Image: Newcleo)}

"Guided through an immersive experience, visitors will discover the functioning of the reactor, its ability to burn waste produced by traditional nuclear power plants, and its passive safety features that make it the ideal solution for powering energy-intensive human activities in a sustainable and decarbonised manner," Newcleo said.

A system has also been set up for interactive visualisation of data and information on nuclear energy and its role within the process of decarbonising energy systems.

Pininfarina has curated the project's creative vision by "infusing" Newcleo's technological solutions with design, "bringing for the first time to the nuclear industry a creative vision that mixes technical and aesthetic elements to facilitate its integration in urban and peri-urban environments".

Fincantieri has contributed to the project its extensive experience in shipbuilding, studying a possible industrial application for Newcleo's innovative solution.

Fincantieri and Newcleo have been collaborating since 2023 to study applications of Newcleo's technology for naval propulsion. Similarly, Pininfarina is collaborating with Newcleo to design a nuclear fuel research and development centre that will be built in Chusclan in the Gard region of France.

"Through this installation, we're introducing the world to a new paradigm of clean, sustainable nuclear energy designed to serve people and communities," said Newcleo founder and CEO Stefano Buono. "Moving beyond the large reactors of the past, we've developed small, inherently safe reactors that solve the nuclear waste problem while delivering abundant decarbonised energy. Together with Pininfarina and Fincantieri, we're unveiling a new vision for nuclear power engineered for forward-thinking societies that are committed to both progress and caring for the environment."

The exhibition opened on 8 May and runs until 28 November.