Greece has no fundamental barriers to deploying floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), according to a feasibility study published by the Deon Policy Institute — the first of its kind to examine FNPP deployment within the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental context of a European country.

The report, which uses Greece as a case study, was produced using research conducted by Core Power, Athlos Energy and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Full results from the broader research programme are expected to be published later this year.

Using a PESTLE framework, the report assesses the conditions under which FNPPs could be deployed in Greece, a country that has historically not used nuclear power. The study's publication comes ahead of the Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition 2026, where Core Power will convene industry leaders, policymakers and experts on 2 June, to explore the future role of nuclear in maritime applications.

Key findings

The report identifies several findings relevant to both Greece and, by extension, other European markets. Policy, legal and regulatory frameworks in Greece do not yet substantively address nuclear energy or FNPP deployment, reflecting what the report describes as a broader gap in European energy and maritime policy. However, no fundamental barriers to implementation were identified, with the study concluding that the challenge is one of framework development rather than feasibility.

The study notes that social acceptance of nuclear energy remains low in Greece compared with other countries, though FNPPs are perceived more positively than land-based nuclear installations. It calls for further public education and stakeholder engagement. On the technical side, the report finds no major barriers to FNPP deployment given the maturity of the technology, though it notes the need to develop local value chains and workforce capability.

The document also highlights that the characteristics of the Greek energy market — high electricity costs, dependence on imported fossil fuels, the need for baseload power, and decarbonisation obligations — are not unique to Greece and are likely to be replicated across other European markets.

Observations

George Laskaris, President of the Deon Policy Institute, commented: "This PESTLE study shows that floating nuclear power plants are not a distant or purely theoretical option for Greece. No fundamental technical or institutional barriers were identified; the real challenge is building the policy, regulatory, financial and social foundations needed for responsible assessment. For Greece, FNPPs sit at the intersection of energy security, decarbonisation, maritime capability and industrial policy."

Mikal Bøe, founder and CEO of Core Power, stated: "Construction of nuclear power stations on land is subject to the Iron Law of Megaprojects. It's always behind schedule and always over budget. FNPPs, as complete turnkey power stations built in specialised shipyards to the highest standards, break that law and create the conditions we need to scale the deployment of a safe, reliable electric power supply from nuclear energy. This study aims to advance the conversation about FNPPs within EU policy, using Greece as a practical example."

Bøe added: "Nuclear is emerging as the only solution that solves both energy security and greenhouse gas reductions. We're seeing a powerful momentum building for FNPPs, and the role of governments is now to shape existing frameworks to facilitate rapid deployment."

Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, noted: "These initial findings shed important light on how FNPPs can be assessed and integrated within existing frameworks, a critical question as the industry moves toward practical deployment. The real challenge before us is integration into policy and regulatory frameworks, and ABS is committed to helping the industry navigate that path."

Dionysios Chionis, co-founder of Athlos Energy, said: "Over the past year, through close collaboration between ABS, Core Power and Athlos Energy, we have examined the interdisciplinary and complex question of how floating nuclear power plants could apply to the Greek context. As nuclear energy is now entering the Greek public dialogue, this work provides one of the first comprehensive assessments of the challenges, opportunities and risks associated with FNPP technology for Greece's energy system needs."

The report is authored by Georgios Laskaris, nuclear physicist and Founder and President of Deon Policy Institute; Afroditi Xydi, environmental engineer and Executive Director of Deon Policy Institute; Ioannis Kourasis, Principal Nuclear Engineer at Core Power (UK); Spyros Ηirdaris, Manager of the Global Ship Systems Center of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS); Dionysios Chionis, Nuclear Engineer at Axpo Power in Switzerland and co-founder of Athlos Energy in Greece; and Stathis Vlassopoulos, a mechanical engineer with a PhD in Nuclear Technology from EPFL, Switzerland.

The full document, entitled 'Floating Nuclear Power Plants for Greece - Conclusions and Policy Recommendations from a PESTLE Study', is available here.