The experimental marine nuclear propulsion system project (MarNuPS) has taken its initial steps towards physical integration and testing of marine nuclear propulsion technology with 20 million Norwegian kroner (approximately 2 million USD) funding from the Research Council of Norway. This project is led by Emerald Nuclear Norway and includes collaboration from several reputable entities including VARD Group, Vard Electro, Island Offshore, NTNU University, Imperial College London, and Maskindynamikk.
Details of the MarNuPS Project
The first phase of this program is estimated to cost around 150 million Norwegian kroner (approximately 15.6 million USD). Hallgeir Juliebø, one of the founders and Chief Commercial Officer of Emerald Nuclear and President of Emerald Nuclear Norway, considers this funding a sign of the project's credibility and progress, rather than just its scale.
He added, "Our partners currently have a significant commitment to the MarNuPS project, and this funding helps our program transition from design and analysis to the construction and testing of a complete integrated system. This is just the beginning of a long-term development and evaluation process, but it shows that marine nuclear propulsion is now being pursued as a serious industrial project."
Technology Development and Future Plans
The MarNuPS project aims to combine Emerald Nuclear's 5-megawatt Gem micro-reactor with energy storage systems, power conversion, ship power management, automation, and bridge control systems. The first phase of this project, scheduled for 2027, targets the establishment of an integrated testing center in Stette near Ålesund. At this center, a complete representation of the ship propulsion system will be assembled and tested using electric heating instead of nuclear fuel, allowing partners to examine the performance of various systems under conditions similar to ship operations.
The tests will include assessments of normal operation, rapid changes in power demand, transient conditions and stress, system performance, and crew interaction. Island Offshore intends to be the first ship owner to install the reactor and energy system, aiming to utilize this technology in ships by 2031 and 2032.
Tommy Walaunet, CEO of Island Offshore, stated, "Nuclear energy has the potential to create a new pathway for carbon reduction in marine vessels without sacrificing the power, endurance, and operational flexibility that these vessels require."
The partners in this project bring complementary expertise in various fields: Emerald Nuclear in reactor technology and nuclear integration, VARD Group in ship design and integration, Vard Electro in power management and automation, Island Offshore in ship operations and crew input, NTNU University in nuclear modeling and thermohydraulics, Imperial College London in structural integrity, and Maskindynamikk in instrumentation, condition monitoring, and diagnostics.
The MarNuPS project is built on years of Norwegian research in marine nuclear propulsion and is part of the related experimental project SFI SAINT – Sustainable, Applicable, and Industrialized Nuclear Technology, which has received 96 million Norwegian kroner from the Research Council and approximately 200 million Norwegian kroner in funding from the industry.
