en.Wedoany.com Reported - Finnish small modular reactor developer Steady Energy has signed a letter of intent with municipal energy company Alva-yhtiöt Oy to study the suitability of small modular reactors as a district heating source for the city of Jyväskylä in central Finland.
The two companies have initiated a one-year preliminary study to assess the feasibility of using nuclear energy for heating in Jyväskylä from regulatory, local acceptance, suitable siting, zoning, technical, and cost perspectives. The parties will also examine suitable locations for a potential plant, evaluate the economics of the technology, and consider possible construction timelines. At this stage, no decisions will be made regarding project implementation or technology selection.
Upon completion of the assessment, the two companies will separately decide whether to proceed to a more detailed process phase, namely the pre-planning stage. Alva stated that if the project proceeds, the small nuclear power project will be a multi-year, phased process. The project will require extensive research, planning, various licensing procedures, as well as evaluation and approval by regulatory authorities.
In addition to Jyväskylä, Helsinki, Kuopio, and Kerava are also advancing small modular reactor heating projects. In December 2023, Steady Energy signed a letter of intent with eastern Finnish municipal energy company Kuopion Energia, which includes an option to build up to five district heating reactors starting from 2030. Prior to that, in October 2023, Steady Energy signed a letter of intent with Helsinki energy company Helen to build up to 10 small modular reactors for district heating. In October 2024, Kerava, located in the Uusimaa region of Finland and part of the Helsinki metropolitan area, became the third Finnish city to consider using small modular reactors for heating.
Steady Energy's LDR-50 district heating small modular reactor has a thermal power of 50 MW and has been under development at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland since 2020. The reactor is designed to operate at a temperature of around 150 degrees Celsius and a pressure of less than 10 bar (145 psi). The company states that compared to traditional reactors, its "less demanding operating conditions simplify the technical solutions needed to meet the high safety standards of the nuclear industry." Steady Energy estimates that the LDR-50 can be deployed within seven years, including licensing, at a cost of approximately EUR 100 million (USD 116 million), making it affordably investable for municipal utility companies.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
