Norway Launches Second Phase of Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping Study
Norway’s NuProShip (Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping) project is transitioning into its second stage as of January 2025 after having completed initial studies into Generation IV reactors. The project which launched in 2023 has the ultimate purpose to develop a commercially viable zero-emission technology for deep-sea ships.
The Research Council of Norway awarded nearly $1 million (NOK 10 mission) in support of the project which has also drawn support from some of the leading companies in the shipping industry. DNV is among the partners as is Knutsen Tankers, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, and Spanish nuclear consultancy IDOM. Shipbuilder VARD reports it is joining the second stage of the project, which is currently scheduled to run through the end of 2025.
The project started with a focus on approved designs with a power of 25 to 55 MW. In the first phase, it was studying the feasibility of different nuclear reactor concepts within the Generation IV domain. VARD reports there was an extensive assessment of concepts from 99 companies before three reactor types were selected for future study.
Two of the concepts use TRISO fuel participles which are billed as one of the most resilient nuclear fuel types available today. It would be used with a Fluoride high-temperature molten salt reactor which is reported to be a robust design that would provide efficient operation. A second is a helium-cooled gas reactor. The third concept is smaller variants of the lead-cooled reactor concept using uranium oxide as a fuel.
The shipping industry has shown increasing interest in the concept of nuclear-powered propulsion returning to concepts first explored nearly 70 years ago. The United States was successful in building a demonstration prototype passenger-cargo ship, the NS Savannah, but the nascent stage of the technology, concerns over the dangers of nuclear reactors, and the navy’s focus on nuclear propulsion limited the commercial applications. Russia is the primary user of nuclear propulsion for its icebreakers.
The next phase of the NuProShip project will be expanded to also include insurance companies to further explore the viability of nuclear technology in the shipping industry. The concepts defined in the first phase will be further analyzed during the second phase as they also study feasibility, safety, costs, waste, and other factors.
VARD reports its primary role involves the integration of the reactor concepts into various vessel types. It will be assessing the technical challenges to enable the future commercial use of nuclear-powered ships.
The third phase of the project calls for developing and testing a prototype. The conclusion will assemble all the insights and estimate the economic and environmental effects. It will outline the risks and future development needs to proceed with the concept of nuclear-powered merchant ships.
Three SMRs selected for evaluation in ship propulsion study
The initial phase of Norway's NuProShip initiative - which is evaluating Generation IV small modular reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications - has concluded, with three SMR technologies being selected for further evaluation in the next phase.
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The NuProShip project is being funded by the Research Council of Norway. Alongside Norwegian shipbuilder VARD, the project is supported by prominent partners, including the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, class society DNV, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, ship owner Knutsen Tankers, and the Spanish nuclear consultancy IDOM.
VARD said its primary contribution involves integrating these reactor systems into various vessel types, assessing the technical challenges to enable the future commercial use of nuclear-powered ships.
The ultimate purpose of the research programme is to develop a commercially viable zero-emission technology for deep-sea ships that satisfies all stakeholders and requires no subsidies after the initial development process.
During Phase I of the project, which began in 2023 and ended on 31 December, a total of 99 companies developing advanced reactor technologies were assessed.
The main purpose of NuProShip I is to adjust a Generation IV SMR to the needs of international shipping. The technical starting point was an already approved design at 25–55 MW. The nuclear technology itself was studied, but also regulatory issues, safety issues, ship design implications, maintenance, handling of radioactive rest material and crew requirements.
VARD has now announced that three promising SMR designs have been selected for more in-depth assessment in NuProShip II, which will run over the next two years. This phase aims to develop a workable prototype solution. In NuProShip III, it will be tested.
The selected technologies are: Kairos Power of the USA's fluoride high-temperature molten salt reactor using TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) fuel particles; Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation of the USA's helium-cooled gas reactor, also employing TRISO fuel particles; and Blykalla of Sweden's lead-cooled reactor concept utilising uranium oxide as fuel.
The second phase of NuProShip will expand the consortium to include insurance companies, "a critical step for evaluating the business viability of nuclear technology in the shipping industry", VARD said.
The shipping industry consumes some 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for about 3% of total worldwide carbon emissions. In July 2023, the shipping industry, via the International Maritime Organization, approved new targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by, or around, 2050.
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