Norway’s Norsk Kjernekraft has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US X-energy to explore deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) in Norway. In August, Norsk Kjernekraft signed a collaboration agreement with South Korea’s DL Energy and DL E&C, both part of the South Korean DL Group, which has built several NPPs. The new MOU embraces Norsk Kjernekraft, X-energy, DL Energy and DL E&C. The aim is to bring South Korean expertise and US technology to Norway to deploy SMRs in selected municipalities.
In addition, South Korea, through the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development (KIND) Corporation, has allocated funds to DL Energy and DL Engineering & Construction, in collaboration with Norsk Kjernekraft and X-energy, for the Norwegian SMR Development and Operation Project Preliminary Feasibility Study in connection with Mongstad industrial area in Austrheim municipality outside Bergen.
X-energy is developing the Xe-100 SMR, a Generation IV high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor design. X-energy says the design expands applications and markets for deployment of nuclear technology and drives enhanced safety, lower cost and faster construction timelines when compared with other SMRs and conventional nuclear. X-energy is deploying its initial project with Dow at their Seadrift manufacturing site inTexas as a part of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP).
Norsk Kjernekraft is seeking to build, own and operate SMR power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry. In addition, a new company, Halden Kjernekraft AS, has been set up by Norsk Kjernekraft, Østfold Energi and the municipality of Halden (Østfold county) to investigate the construction of a nuclear plant based on SMRs at Halden, where a research reactor once operated.
In July, Norsk Kjernekraft signed a cooperation agreement with Lyngdal municipality in southern Norway’s Agder county to investigate a possible future small NPP in the area. This came just a few days after the company signed a similar agreement with the nearby municipality of Farsund, also in Agder county. The previous week, Norsk Kjernekraft had signed a cooperation agreement with Lund municipality in the southern county of Rogaland for the establishment of a nuclear plant in anticipation of increased power demand.
In June Norsk Kjernekraft submitted a proposal to Norway’s Ministry of Energy for an assessment into the construction of a power plant based on multiple SMRs in the north-eastern county of Finnmark. In April, the company launched an impact assessment of a plot of land in Øygarden municipality (Vestland county) to assess the possibility of establishing a nuclear plant based on five SMRs.
In 2023, Finnmark’s Vardø municipality and Norsk Kjernekraft signed an agreement to prepare a report with proposals for a study programme after Vardø proposed nearby Svartnes as a possible NPP site. Agreements were signed with a number of municipalities in 2023 to explore the feasibility of nuclear power.
In June 2023 a letter of intent was signed with TVO Nuclear Services (part of Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj) to jointly investigate the deployment of SMRs in Norway. This included the possible development of nuclear power in the municipalities of Aure (Møre og Romsdal county), Heim (Trøndelag county), Narvik (Nordland county) and Vardø. November 2023 saw Norsk Kjernekraf submit a proposal to the Ministry of Oil & Energy to assess the construction of a SMR power plant in Aure and Heim.
Jonny Hesthammer, CEO of Norsk Kjernekraft, commenting on the latst collaborations, noted: “South Korea has extensive experience in the efficient construction and operation of nuclear power plants, while US has the leading technology. The recent investment by Amazon, one of the world’s largest companies, in X-energy underlines the importance of this agreement. This is simply because it increases the chances of succeeding. While the SMRs to be developed by X-energy are considered fourth generation, the technology is well proven.”
He added: “I am also pleased to see the engagement by the Austrheim municipality, who are forward-leaning and eager to collaborate with the goal of investigating whether nuclear power can be a part of the future electricity mix in the Mongstad region.”
X-energy Senior Director Alistair Black welcomed collaboration with DL Energy to assess the potential for an Xe-100 advanced small modular reactor project in Southwest Norway. “X-energy’s reactors and fuel represent a new generation of nuclear which is intrinsically safe and faster and more cost effective …. We have projects underway in the US and could help Norway decarbonise its industrial sector and transport network and meet growing electricity demand from the booming artificial intelligence and cloud computing sectors.”
