Uncle Sam aims to help nuclear energy find its sea legs

SCIENCE

IAEA initiative tackles the rules for floating reactors and atom-powered civilian ships

Not content with nuclear reactors on land, the US is backing an international push to put atomic power plants aboard civilian ships and floating platforms.

The US will host the launch of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative in Washington, DC, on August 26 and 27.

ATLAS aims to tackle the legal, regulatory, safety, security, and liability problems that stand between maritime reactors and commercial deployment.

Ahead of the launch, the US will hold an "Industry Day" on August 25 to showcase technology from American nuclear and maritime companies hoping to take a share of any future market.

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright linked the event to the Department of Energy's broader drive to deliver oodles of extra atomic power for AI datacenters and other industries.

"DoE remains focused on unleashing American energy dominance, accelerating innovation, and advancing sources of energy that are affordable, reliable, and secure for the American people," he said.

"Hosting the launch of ATLAS supports this critical mission, positioning the US nuclear and maritime sectors at the forefront of advanced energy innovation, while promoting safety and security for the United States and the world." 

The initiative covers civilian nuclear-powered ships and floating power plants, with the latter potentially supplying coastal communities or energy-hungry industrial processes such as desalination.

The DoE is pinning its hopes on small modular reactors (SMRs), whose high energy density and long operating cycles could suit ships and offshore power installations.

America is no stranger to reactors afloat. Every active US Navy aircraft carrier is nuclear-powered, giving it almost unlimited range without frequent refueling.

The US Navy also used to operate nuclear-powered cruisers, such as the Virginia class, but these were retired after the end of the Cold War because they were costly to run.

Civilian nuclear ships are also not entirely new. NS Savannah was the first nuclear-powered merchant ship when it was launched back in 1959, but again proved costly to run. Perhaps the IAEA hopes that SMRs will make atom-driven civilian ships more economical.

Russia operates the world's only floating nuclear power plant. The Akademik Lomonosov is a barge-like vessel whose two KLT-40S reactors can generate a combined 70 MW of electricity.

The world's first floating nuclear power station, Russia's Akademik Lomonosov, was launched in 2019 Elena Dider, CC 4.0

Putting a reactor on water changes the risks rather than making them disappear. The surrounding sea provides a vast heat sink for cooling, but a plant moored in a remote location may have limited access to emergency backup power, according to one assessment.

However, any accident might also see radioactive contamination of the marine environment near the damaged reactor, which could seriously affect the coastal community the nuke was meant to be serving.

"The global maritime sector is at a critical turning point, facing urgent pressure to sustain long-distance, high-speed operations while ensuring reliability and energy security," said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

"Small modular reactors offer a safe and viable option for maritime transport and offshore energy systems – delivering high energy density and long operating cycles that eliminate the need for frequent refueling." ®