UK nuclear propulsion consortium sets out plan to develop 'nuclear-powered fleet'

A cross-sector group of UK businesses with interests in the maritime sector’s propulsion choices has set out its intent to develop designs and frameworks for an advanced modular nuclear reactor that can power commercial vessels.

Partners in the Lloyd’s Register (LR) initiative include Rolls-Royce’s Advanced Modular Reactors division, ship designers Babcock International Group, Global Nuclear Security Partners, law firm Stephenson Harwood and insurer NorthStandard.

The consortium’s immediate goal is to design a generic, site-licensed advanced modular reactor and develop the class certification framework, security safeguards, insurability pathways and government policy guidance needed to set up a full supply chain for manufacturing the reactors.

"Without co-ordinated UK action, the chance to define the rules, create high-skilled jobs and anchor a global supply chain could be lost to faster competitors. Acting now would give the UK first-mover advantage, and ensure those standards, jobs and supply chains are built here," a statement from Lloyd’s Register said.

By LR’s count, more than 700 marine nuclear reactors are in operation in naval fleets worldwide.

"The challenge is to adapt that technology for commercial use. By shaping rules for emerging reactor designs, the UK aims to position itself as a leading developer of maritime nuclear power and contribute to the net-zero ocean economy," the class society said.

Rolls-Royce Advanced Modular Reactors director Jake Thompson said that nuclear power is increasingly being seen as a viable decarbonisation pathway across multiple hard-to-abate sectors, including maritime.

“We believe that the multi-sector collaboration from the Nuclear Maritime Consortium is a critical first step in the UK leading the development of the future international code for nuclear-powered vessels. Rolls-Royce is one of the world’s only nuclear reactor vendors with full lifecycle experience and end-to-end capability to credibly deliver these advanced technologies; based on proven, reliable power solutions in use across our business today,” Mr Thompson said.