Svalbard Kjernekraft has submitted a proposal for an assessment programme to the Governor of the Norwegian Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard for the installation of a small modular reactor (SMR). This is the first formal step on the road to the establishment of a nuclear power plant based on SMRs in Longyearbyen – the administrative centre of the Svalbard archipelago. After the Governor has established the study programme, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) can begin, in line with the energy legislation.
Svalbard Kärnkraft, a joint project company owned by the Swedish reactor developer Blykalla and Norsk Kärnkraft. The company will develop a NPP based on SMRs to supply Longyearbyen with energy all year round. Longyearbyen was powered by coal until 2023. Since the closure of the coal plant, temporary diesel systems have been installed, resulting in higher costs and reduced reliability. Blykalla and Norsk Kjernekraft aim to build a compact SMR that connects to the existing electricity and district heating grid, effectively replacing the old coal infrastructure.
Blykalla founded in 2013, is a spin-off from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Its SMR prototype SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead-cooled Reactor) design is a fast compact reactor with passive safety. Each reactor will have a 55 MWe capacity, which can be increased by installing multiple units at the same location. The reactor is designed with the smallest possible core that can achieve criticality in a fast spectrum using 19.9% enriched nitride fuel.
Svalbard Kjernekraft’s proposal describes the project, local conditions and suggests topics for further investigation. The list of topics includes, among others, the environment and biodiversity, safety, waste management, ripple effects for society and effects on local businesses and jobs. The final location for the nuclear power plant will be determined through the impact assessment.
“With the planning initiative submitted, the next stage is for the Governor of Svalbard to set the scope of the environmental impact assessment,” Blykalla said. “Once that is in place, detailed studies and stakeholder consultations can begin, paving the way for the licensing process and eventual construction.”
The company said the Longyearbyen project will “also serve as a showcase for how advanced SMR technology can help secure energy supply in places with limited energy capacity, both in the Nordics and around the world”.
Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer noted: “This collaboration marks a new chapter in Norway’s history as a polar nation. Reliable and affordable energy is a prerequisite for Norway’s continued assertion of sovereignty in Svalbard, especially given the current geopolitical situation. Now that the coal-fired power plant in Longyearbyen has been closed, nuclear power is the only long-term solution to maintain energy security without using fossil fuels.”
In February this year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Blykalla and Norsk Kjernekraft to collaborate on the deployment of Blykalla’s SEALER in Scandinavia. The two companies are to assess the business case for integrating the SEALER into power plant projects currently under development by Norsk Kjernekraft, evaluating site suitability, regulatory pathways, and economic feasibility for deployment in Norway.
