The World Nuclear Association’s Cooperation in Reactor Design Evaluation and Licensing (CORDEL) Working Group has published a paper, “Facilitating Global Deployment of Floating Nuclear Power Plants,” that could reshape the nuclear energy landscape. The paper highlights the potential of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) to accelerate nuclear deployment, a critical need given the pledge to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050 to meet climate and energy security goals. Achieving this would require deploying an average of 40 gigawatts of electricity (GWe) per year, a rate more than four times the current deployment pace. FNPPs, with their modular construction and reduced site preparation requirements, could be a key to unlocking this acceleration.
Nuclear power has a long history at sea, primarily in naval applications, but civilian use has been limited. The Akademik Lomonosov, a Russian FNPP commissioned in 2020, demonstrates the potential of this technology to provide reliable, clean power to remote areas. FNPPs offer several advantages over land-based reactors, including reduced construction times, enhanced resilience to natural disasters, and the ability to relocate to avoid hazards or meet changing energy demands. These benefits make FNPPs an attractive option for countries looking to expand their nuclear energy mix without developing extensive domestic nuclear infrastructure.
However, international deployment of FNPPs faces regulatory challenges. These vessels exist at the intersection of international nuclear safety and marine frameworks, requiring licensing and supervision by both nuclear and maritime regulators. The World Nuclear Association paper emphasizes the need for a common global understanding and position to facilitate a standardized approach to FNPP deployment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will need to work together to reconcile nuclear safety, security, and safeguards with marine requirements. The recent decision by the IMO to review the “Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships” and relevant parts of the SOLAS convention is a step in the right direction.
The potential deployment of FNPPs could also bring innovations to current nuclear practices, particularly in safeguards. As the World Nuclear Association’s CORDEL Working Group advocates for the alignment of regulatory requirements and design criteria for land-based nuclear power plants, the same alignment is necessary for those at sea. Greater international cooperation is needed to facilitate the deployment of FNPPs, which could yield dividends for the wider nuclear industry.
This news could shape the development of the nuclear sector by accelerating the deployment of nuclear power plants and bringing innovations to nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. The potential of FNPPs to provide reliable, clean power to remote areas and their ability to be redeployed to meet changing energy demands could make them a key player in the global effort to meet climate and energy security goals. The upcoming World Nuclear Symposium in London, featuring a session on navigating maritime nuclear applications, will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into these developments.