Core Power to Produce a Fleet of Floating Nuclear Power Plants for US Coastline

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Nuclear power has resurgence lately, with 2025 deemed as the year when nuclear energy generation will be the highest in history. Many countries are constructing new nuclear power plants to meet the increasing energy needs, while also ensuring energy security. Lately, floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) have also become an attractive option, particularly for coastal communities, islands, Arctic regions, offshore industries, and more. 

FNPPs have many advantages, like flexible deployment and natural cooling from the ocean/sea. Moreover, they are more resilient to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, while minimizing environmental impact, like deforestation. Core Power, a UK-based FNPP manufacturer, wants to build on those advantages and develop a US-anchored maritime civil nuclear program that should start delivering nuclear energy by the mid-2030s.

Called Liberty, the program will unlock a floating power market of $2.6tn, according to Core Power CEO, Mikal Bøe. The reason for this staggering growth is the fact that 65% of economic activity takes place on the coast.

Core Power’s plan is to construct floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) using advanced fission technology, providing a clean, reliable, and scalable energy source for coastal and maritime industries. The FNPPs will be produced in shipyards on modular production lines, using the company’s established shipbuilding processes. The floating power plants can be deployed at ports, coastal locations, and offshore sites without extensive land-based infrastructure. These power barges will be manufactured in shipyards using modular techniques, enabling mass production and streamlined deployment

However, that will only be the first phase; Core Power also plans to introduce nuclear propulsion for commercial ships, allowing vessels to operate on nuclear energy, vastly reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Ships equipped with molten salt reactors — a next-generation nuclear technology — will be capable of running for their entire operational lifespan on a single fuel load, drastically improving efficiency, speed, and cargo capacity.

The question you might be asking now is — are these FNPPs safe? According to Core Power, the advanced molten salt technology employed in the Liberty program makes them inherently safe. Operating at near-atmospheric pressure, these reactors eliminate the need for extensive exclusion zones, making them a viable and insurable option for the maritime industry. Their efficiency means reduced nuclear waste and minimal environmental impact, too.

“CORE POWER’s Liberty program will deliver resilient energy security for heavy industry and ocean transport,” Bøe said. “In doing so, it will revolutionize the maritime sector and transform global trade.”

Ashton Henning