Plans to install a nuclear reactor on a ship in the North Sea
In Norway, $2 million has been allocated to a project for creating compact nuclear reactors for commercial vessels. The reactor module is expected to be replaced every 5–15 years. Initial tests of the system are planned to be conducted on land without nuclear fuel in 2027.
They intend to install a nuclear reactor on a ship in the North Sea
The Research Council of Norway has allocated funds to finance the Marine Nuclear Propulsion System — MarNuPS project. The project participants aim to develop and implement small modular nuclear reactors adapted for maritime transport.
Such power units could eliminate the need for fossil fuels in vessels operating on the open sea. Developers expect the reactors to provide high power and allow ships to operate for long periods without frequent refueling.
In the initial phase, tests will be conducted in the Stette area near the Norwegian city of Ålesund. A full-scale mockup of the ship's power plant will be assembled here to test how its various components work together.
Nuclear fuel will not be used in these tests. Engineers will generate the heat that the reactor should release using electricity. This will allow evaluating the system's operational characteristics and control without the radiation risks associated with nuclear fuel. The tests are scheduled to begin in 2027.
The core of the power system consists of the Gem microreactor being developed by Emerald Nuclear. Its electrical capacity is expected to be 5 megawatts.
It is planned to use TRISO-type fuel in the reactor. In it, tiny particles containing enriched uranium are protected by several layers of ceramic and carbon coatings.
These layers are designed to withstand extremely high temperatures and reduce the risk of radioactive substances leaking outside. Special equipment that converts the heat generated in the reactor into electrical energy will be supplied by Peregrine Turbine Technologies.
One of the main features of the project is a replaceable reactor module. According to the current plan, the reactor will be placed inside a sealed module, and this module will be replaced with a new one every 5–15 years. Thus, it is expected that there will be no need to carry out complex operations directly related to replacing nuclear fuel in ports.
Norwegian shipowner Island Offshore intends to be the first to apply this technology at sea. The company plans to install an operational Gem reactor on a vessel supplying offshore oil and gas platforms in 2031–2032.
If the plan succeeds, it could pave the way for the use of nuclear energy on commercial vessels operating in the North Sea.