Fall Inside NIRMA Issue

Nuclear energy has a proven track
record of producing the clean and
reliable energy communities need,
while being an accommodating
neighbor. As the most land-efficient
source of energy, nuclear power
plants require just 1.3 square miles
per 1,000 megawatts of energy.
With the next generation of
technologies coming online,
nuclear’s land usage may shrink even
more. Many advanced reactor
designs are poised to be simpler,
smaller, and modular while creating
good-paying jobs, enhancing our
energy security, and helping us meet
our climate goals. But did you know
that some designs go one step
further, providing resilient
electricity...while being on a body of
water?
It may sound like science fiction,
but it’s a fact that investors
are expressing interest in floating
nuclear power plants (FNPPs), and
that nuclear-powered innovations
have the potential to go seaborne. As
a cutting-edge nuclear technology,
FNPPs can address several global
energy challenges with flexible
power, innovation, and the ability to
decarbonize heavy industries faster
than you can say, “All aboard!”
Spurring Versatile Power
FNPPs allow for a wide range of
versatile power applications.
Developers construct them on ships
or barges as self-contained, mobile
power stations, ensuring they can
deploy them to virtually any coastal
region or waterway.
This flexibility opens new
possibilities for generating clean
energy in areas that were previously
inaccessible for traditional nuclear
facilities. FNPPs can be an ideal
solution to meet the specific energy
demands of these regions, such as
island nations that need energy for a
wide variety of applications including
water desalination, district heating/
cooling, and electricity.
Additionally, developers can build
FNPPs with ready-made
infrastructure like shipyards. By
utilizing modular construction
techniques to construct smaller,
simpler reactors, developers reduce
costs while paving the way for the
quick deployment of nuclear power
at sea.
Decarbonizing Heavy Industries
Addressing climate change will
require significantly reducing our
greenhouse gas emissions, especially
from heavy industries that have
historically relied on fossil fuels.
FNPPs can be deployed near
coastal industrial complexes,
minimizing transmission losses and
providing a stable power supply to
energy-intensive operations. This
localized power generation helps
reduce the strain on existing power
grids and assures a consistent energy
supply to critical industries.
Companies are also planning on
deploying nuclear reactors on civilian
maritime vessels for power and
propulsion. Ocean transportation
carries more than 80 percent of the
world’s exported goods via large
diesel engines. If these vessels were a
country, they would be sixth globally
on greenhouse gas emissions—just
above Germany. Next-generation
nuclear is the only zero-emission
energy source available to power
these vessels that make up the
backbone of global shipping.
Fostering Innovation
This isn’t nuclear’s first time at
sea—in fact, our nation has a rich
history of using nuclear energy to
Continues on page 36.
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