Author: Kiersten Sundell
Ever wish you could just send a nuclear plant to a place that’s in dire need of clean energy?
Believe it or not, a future like that may be on the horizon. Floating nuclear plants are self-contained power stations on ships or barges, capable of docking in almost any coastal area or waterway.
This cutting-edge nuclear technology opens up new possibilities for generating clean energy in areas that were previously inaccessible to traditional nuclear facilities, helping to address global challenges like energy poverty and air pollution. Floating nuclear plants can also be customized to meet specific energy demands of these regions, like island nations that need energy for water desalination, district heating or cooling, and electricity.
The United States pioneered this idea with the Sturgis– a nuclear power ship that supplied 10 megawatts to the Panama Canal from 1967 to 1976.
It was about that same time that the U.S. Offshore Power Systems project proposed the concept of large-scale floating nuclear power plants, which would be built in shipyards and transferred to coastal locations. In theory, they are safer, cheaper, and faster to build, not to mention more flexible than traditional land-based nuclear plants. Unfortunately, the Three Mile Island incident of 1979 sparked a wave of anti-nuclear protests, bringing research efforts to a halt.
In recent years, interest has resurged in floating nuclear power plants as a source of carbon-free electricity. Companies like ThorCon and Seaborg, along with countries such as China, South Korea, and Indonesia, are currently developing new designs for floating reactors.
Russia currently has one in operation, called the Akademik Lomonosov. This ship uses two 35-megawatt small modular reactors and serves in an arctic mining town called Pevek, where energy needs fluctuate and basic resources can be scarce. It has had great success in the two years since it was deployed, leading us to wonder if this will be the next big thing in nuclear innovation.
Do you think floating nuclear is a good idea?
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