Robert McDonald, Principal Engineer at Norway's Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), says it's time to shine the spotlight on the potential of thorium and small modular reactors (SMRs) for shipping.
The big picture: The concept would transfer the short-sea battery revolution to the deep sea, enabling ships to recharge anywhere in the world.
In April, the design for the world's first thorium-powered ship, Ulstein Thor, was launched.
McDonald describes Thor as "a fantastic idea" and posits that thorium is "possibly one of, if not the, most feasible alternative future fuels for maritime."
An SMR is a nuclear reactor with a power output of 10-300 megawatts electric (MWe), McDonald explains, as he goes on to list what he believes are the key benefits of the technology.
McDonald acknowledges that the word 'nuclear' has different connotations for different audiences and that the willingness within society to embrace thorium-powered ships will be crucial for it to be accepted.
To support his argument, McDonald points out that nuclear-powered naval vessels already call at ports around the world every day and have been doing so since 1955.
McDonald notes that the military follow regulations whereby they are expected to keep the reactors safe and ensure there is no unauthorized access. "I expect those regulations would be the same in a commercial scenario," he adds.
IFE and Ulstein are not alone in their interest in thorium and MSRs in the maritime context.
"Up until this year it seemed like MSRs and thorium were areas of niche interest, whereas now momentum is really growing," McDonald says.
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