Up to 110 Allseas small modular reactors (SMRs) could be deployed onshore in the Netherlands by 2050 to power industry and cut emissions, according to an impact study by consultancy firm Roland Berger. The study was commissioned by Netherlands-based Allseas, a global contractor in the offshore energy market,
It said onshore SMRs could help to generate dependable electricity sources for industrial clusters in the Netherlands, which would ease pressure on the electricity grid. The 85-page study was developed over a period of seven weeks ending 17 October.
The scope the study was to address the following:
- External validation of the SMR proposition, including detailed calculation of the Levelised Cost of Energy of Allseas’ SMRs in comparison to other energy sources;
- External analysis of the potential of SMRs in the global maritime sector, including potential reductions in CO2 emissions and costs;
- External analysis of the potential of SMRs in key industrial sectors in the Netherlands, including potential reductions in CO2 emissions and costs;
- High-level assessment of additional use cases for SMRs;
- Economic impact analysis of SMR deployment in the Netherlands;
- Assessment of the impact of SMRs on the strategic autonomy of the Netherlands, including geopolitical and societal implications, energy security, grid congestion, and associated risks; and
- Assessment of the impact of SMRs on grid congestion in the Netherlands.
It concluded that the use of 110 SMRs would help industrial centres to reduce their energy costs by around 23%, the study stated. This would provide clean electricity to industry, and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around 10 tonnes. It also showed the potential for over 700 SMRs to be employed across the global maritime fleet, both through the retrofitting of older vessels and newly built ships.
Allseas has selected high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology for a plant with a 25 MWe capacity using TRISO (TRI-structural ISOtropic) fuel. In June, the company launched a five-year plan to design, develop and deploy a SMR tailored for integration into offshore vessels and for onshore use.
According to the study, the deployment of 700 Allseas 25 MWe SMRs by 2050 would lead to a global annual CO2 reduction of 55 tonnes by that time, or the equivalent of 5% of annual maritime emissions. “With this technology, we can meet the urgent demand for stable, clean and affordable energy, while creating an export product that accelerates the global energy transition,” said Stephanie Heerema, Project Manager Nuclear Developments at Allseas.
The study also said deployment of 60-70 SMRs in the Netherlands could generate a cumulative added value of €120-140bn ($139-162bn) and create between 45,000 and 55,000 jobs. Investment opportunities by 2050 were estimated to be €18-22bn. It noted that the use of SMRs in the Netherlands would help strengthen energy security by reducing the need for energy imports, and could help to reduce the EU’s reliance on imported critical minerals given that SMRs can be used to power vessels used for deep sea mining.
The reactors are being developed by Allseas in collaboration with Netherlands-based NRG Pallas, Delft University of Technology and others. “Delft University has been working on an inherently safe microreactor based on HTR technology for more than 10 years. NRG PALLAS has been involved in safety demonstration of pebble fuel containing TRISO.
The Allseas five-year roadmap announced in June noted: “In the first year, we will 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.”
According to the Allseas website, the timeline is as follows:
- 2025–2026: Design studies and start of pre-licensing with the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety & Radiation Protection (ANVS – De Autoriteit Nucleaire Veiligheid en Stralingsbescherming)
- 2027–2028: Basic & detailed design; and testing
- 2029–2030: Start of production at dedicated facility
- From 2030: Initial deployment on land, followed by offshore roll-out
While the Allseas website has very general information on nuclear, HTGR reactors and TRISO fuel, there are no technical details of the planned reactor apart from conceptual diagrams. The Berger study did not look at the technology. Going from conceptual design to deployment in five years seems highly ambitious for a company with no background in nuclear technology. Currently the only HTGR in operation is the land-based HTR-PM in China that started commercial operation in December 2023.
