Growing support for nuclear energy to decarbonise shipping

Some shipping companies are slowly lowering their inhibitions and turning to nuclear energy to power their ships or produce green marine fuels.

PHOTO: A concept design developed as part of ABS study on nuclear propulsion in commercial vessels. ABS

IMO wants shipping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 (striving for 30%) and 70% by 2040 (striving for 80%) with the ultimate goal of eliminating them by (or around) 2050.

The shipping industry, however, faces a challenge in achieving this ambition due to the lack of availability of cleaner marine fuels. Moreover, a recent report from Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) warns of a potential renewable energy shortage to impede green fuel production by 2040.

This has led some maritime industry stakeholders to explore alternative solutions for its decarbonisation dilemma - and they are hoping that nuclear energy may help.

Finding new solutions to existing problems

Multiple sectoral joint collaborations are examining the feasibility of using compact nuclear reactors to propel commercial vessels.

A nuclear tech firm called newcleo is partnering with shipbuilder Fincantieri and classification society RINA. Ship designer Herbert Engineering has teamed up with the classification society ABS, while nine South Korean container liners and research institutions are part of a separate collaboration.

Most agree that nuclear energy would reduce a vessel’s carbon footprint and also allow it to operate for at least 10-15 years without the need for refuelling. This would mean that the overall cost of voyages would be significantly reduced with an initial investment.

Additionally, nuclear energy is carbon-free and reliable in the long run, making it a promising solution to overcome the global shortage of renewable energy sources.

British startup Core Power and Danish engineering firm Seaborg Technologies are working on two separate floating nuclear power plants to power green hydrogen and green ammonia production.

Through this approach, green fuel production will not depend on renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which are susceptible to weather. Nuclear will provide reliable power and help scale up cleaner marine fuels with zero-emission potential.

Is nuclear power safe for commercial use?

Nevertheless, despite its advantages, the nuclear power source is still stigmatised because of safety concerns. This is why companies place a high priority on ensuring that their technology is safe for use in commercial environments.

newcleo, Fincantieri and RINA are exploring the viability of using lead-cooled fast reactors for marine propulsion, as is ABS.

PHOTO: newcleo’s 30-megawatts (MW) lead-cooled fast reactor. RINA

newcleo's nuclear reactor will be powered by nuclear waste. It explained that liquid lead in the reactor would solidify when it came into contact with cold water in case of an accident. As lead is a shielding material, the reactor core would be enclosed in a solid casing and contain radiation.

As part of their respective projects, Seaborg Technologies and the Korean consortium are exploring maritime applications of small molten salt reactors. These reactors utilise high-temperature liquid salts as fuel instead of conventional solid fuels.

“Our technology cannot be weaponised; it cannot melt down or explode,” Per Michael Jensen, head of external affairs and communication at Seaborg Technologies told ENGINE. If the radioactive fuel salt is ever exposed to the atmosphere, it will simply cool down and become solid rock, locking all the radioactive material within, he added.

“It’s just like driving an old aircraft or car versus a modern one. As technology advances, we discover better ways to make it safer for people," Jensen argued.

Nuclear-powered future on the horizon?

Further supporting this argument is Fatih Birol, who believes nuclear energy is making a "strong comeback". Even the European Commission, backed by France, has included nuclear-derived hydrogen in the EU's green hydrogen definition and proposed to include small modular reactors in the Net-Zero Industry Act.

With assurances from industry experts and technological advancements to make it safer for widespread applications, nuclear energy could become more accepted worldwide and eventually become a significant part of the energy mix.

To quote RINA’s chief executive, Ugo Salerno, nuclear energy will be “one of the answers” for the shipping industry to achieve its net-zero ambition by or around 2050.

By Konica Bhatt

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