UK-based maritime nuclear technologies developer CORE POWER will develop a US-anchored maritime civil nuclear program that will bring floating nuclear power to market by the mid-2030s.
The program, Liberty, will encompass modular construction of advanced fission technology and create the regulatory and supply chain frameworks necessary to enable this technology to be rolled out worldwide.
The first part of the Liberty program will see the mass production of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs).
The expertise gained in rolling out FNPPs on a large scale will pave the way for the second part of the program, which involves developing nuclear propulsion for civil ships.
As disclosed by CORE POWER, FNPPs will be produced in shipyards on a modular production line, making use of well-established shipbuilding processes and leveraging an already-skilled workforce. They will, reportedly, be manufactured as power barges that can be moored at ports and coastal locations, as well as larger-capacity generation units anchored further offshore.
According to CORE POWER, a fleet of FNPPs can be mass produced and towed to customer locations without complex site preparations, while a central yard carries out commissioning, maintenance, refuelling, and waste management.
The Liberty program envisions opening the orderbook for floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) in 2028 and reaching full commercialisation by the middle of the next decade.
It is worth mentioning that in addition to design, the company will focus on creating the necessary framework for licensing, insurance and export control.
“The Liberty program will unlock a floating power market worth $2.6tn, and shipyard construction of nuclear will deliver on time and on budget,” Mikal Bøe, CORE POWER CEO said. “Given that 65% of economic activity takes place on the coast, this will allow nuclear to reach new markets.”
To note, Mikal Bøe laid out the company’s vision in his keynote presentation at CORE POWER’s summit in Houston, TX, which took place on February 12.
The second phase will focus on developing the supply chain and workforce, whilst the third phase will see the development of business operations models and creating the manufacturing base.
Meanwhile, the company will be working together with the International Maritime Organization and the International Atomic Energy Authority to create a civil liability convention for nuclear-powered ships.
According to CORE POWER, the program will also encompass creating the regulatory framework necessary to operate FNPPs and (later) civil vessels with nuclear propulsion.
Furthermore, it will include the supply chains that will enable, as the company claims, advanced nuclear reactors to function.
