Wedoany.com Report-Jun 6, Allseas, a Dutch offshore engineering firm, has initiated a five-year plan to develop a small modular reactor (SMR) for offshore vessels and onshore use, selecting high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) with TRISO fuel, producing around 25 MWe, for their inherent safety.

The first year will focus on design studies for offshore and onshore applications, followed by prototype development and pre-licensing talks with stakeholders like the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Allseas will work with Lloyd’s Register, TNO, NRG-Pallas, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), and the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners.

Stephanie Heerema, Project Manager Nuclear Developments at Allseas, said: “Our goal is to start production at a dedicated facility by 2030. Initial deployment will likely begin on land while offshore regulations are finalized, followed by application on our own vessels and broader industry adoption.” This supports Allseas’ targets of 30% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.

Allseas is prioritizing sustainable waste management, exploring graphite reuse and TRISO fuel reprocessing to reduce environmental impact. Jan Leen Kloosterman, Professor at TU Delft, noted: “Delft University of Technology has been working on an inherently safe microreactor based on HTR technology for more than 10 years. We are therefore delighted to contribute to a practical application of this technology.”

The shipping industry, consuming 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel yearly and contributing 3% of global emissions, aims for net-zero by 2050, as set by the International Maritime Organization in July 2023. SMRs provide a zero-emission, high-density energy solution for vessels and onshore industrial clusters, supporting decarbonization.

Heerema stated: “Nuclear is the next frontier, and Allseas is leading the way to deliver safe, clean, and reliable offshore and onshore energy.” Allseas’ expertise in offshore innovation underpins its ambition to implement this SMR technology.