Allseas aims for rapid SMR deployment

Thursday, 5 June 2025

The company has selected high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), using tri-structural isotropic - or TRISO - particle fuel, with a power output of about 25 MWe. It said it selected this small modular reactor (SMR) technology "due to their inherently safe characteristics".

In the first year, Allseas aims to finalise initial design studies for offshore and onshore use. This will be followed by prototype development and pre-licensing discussions in consultation with key stakeholders, including regulators (such as the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, the International Maritime Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)) as well as safety and classification bodies (including Lloyd's Register), and  in close collaboration with its research and innovation partners, including TNO, NRG-Pallas, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), and the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR).

"Our goal is to start production at a dedicated facility by 2030," said Stephanie Heerema, Project Manager Nuclear Developments at Allseas. "Initial deployment will likely begin on land while offshore regulations are finalised, followed by application on our own vessels and broader industry adoption. This aligns with our own sustainability targets – 30% emissions reduction by 2030, and net-zero operations by 2050."

Allseas said that responsible waste management was central to its long-term plan, so the company is exploring circular approaches, such as the reuse of graphite and reprocessing of used TRISO fuel, to "further reduce environmental impact, ensuring waste management remains a key consideration throughout the SMR lifecycle".

Jan Leen Kloosterman, Professor of Nuclear Reactor Physics and Department Head Radiation Science and Technology at TU Delft, said: "Delft University of Technology has been working on an inherently safe microreactor based on HTR technology for more than 10 years. We are therefore delighted to contribute to a practical application of this technology."

The shipping industry consumes some 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for about 3% of total worldwide carbon emissions. In July 2023, the shipping industry, via the International Maritime Organization, approved new targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by, or around, 2050.

According to Allseas, nuclear offers "unmatched energy density, combining zero emissions with stable, scalable power supply". For onshore industrial clusters, it says "SMRs can ease grid pressure while providing consistent, carbon-free power and heat – accelerating decarbonisation and boosting industrial resilience and long-term competitiveness."

"Nuclear is the next frontier, and Allseas is leading the way to deliver safe, clean and reliable offshore and onshore energy," Heerema said. "As pioneers of offshore innovation with a can‑do mentality, from single‑lift platform removal to dynamically positioned pipelay, we have a proven track record of turning groundbreaking concepts into reality."