When we think of nuclear power plants, we usually imagine large concrete structures firmly rooted on land. But could the future of nuclear energy be floating on water? Despite some seventy years of naval nuclear propulsion, floating civil nuclear power plants are yet to be a popular concept.
However, two announcements this week suggest that floating nuclear power could soon be coming to a coast near you.
Thorcon Floating Nuclear Plant
Firstly, US company Thorcon has been confirmed as the first company to begin the nuclear licensing process in Indonesia, with the aim of developing a 500 MWe floating nuclear power plant for commercial operation by 203, and potentially six further units for a total of 3.5 GWe by 2040 to contribute to the country’s growing energy and decarbonisation needs.
Thorcon is focusing on producing competitively low-cost electricity to make its plant attractive for developing countries: it plans to do this by assembling its power plants in commercial shipyards, with a form factor the same as a double-hulled tanker, and towing them into position in a port, thus dramatically reducing build cost and risk compared to a land-based plant of similar output.
In a demonstration of confidence, Thorcon has committed to providing electricity to Indonesia’s grid at $0.069 per kWh, below the national average price and competitive with coal, a key target for developing countries.
Westinghouse & Core Power Floating Nuclear Plant
Secondly, the well-known nuclear manufacturer Westinghouse announced a tie-up with Core Power, a UK company developing nuclear solutions for both floating power plants and civil marine propulsion.
The Westinghouse eVinci microreactor supplies up to 5 MWe, with its unique selling point being a heat pipe, a simple device that passively and safely conducts heat from the reactor core to a power conversion system and so, avoids complex pipes and pumps.
The aim here is to develop a small and simple power plant that is easily transportable by sea, for remote locations, and for uses such as disaster relief.
These two very different reactor proposals illustrate the breadth of development taking place globally in the emerging sector of floating nuclear: Westinghouse’s small and simple plant and Thorcon’s one hundred times the size, but both designed to be transported by sea and used at the coast or river to supply reliable, clean power where required.
All this will have some significant international regulatory issues which still need to be sorted out, as existing international agreements do not adequately cover the routine transport and movement of civilian reactors and fuel by sea.
If you would like advice on the legal and regulatory issues that need to be addressed by mobile and floating nuclear platforms, please get in touch consult the Nuclear Regulatory team at Prospect Law.
Watch this space – and your beach.
John Warden
John Warden brings 35 years of experience in the nuclear and defence sectors to Prospect. He specialises in nuclear reactor project structure and financing, implementation of nuclear technologies, and strategies to meet climate goals using nuclear power. He is increasingly active in the field of advanced nuclear technology, where he advises on the economics and feasibility of deploying small modular reactors and advanced nuclear technology.
Contact John to arrange a call.
