NUCLEAR POWER R esearch led by C-Job Naval Architects has demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy to deliver significant benefits to the shipping industry. Interest in ships powered by nuclear reactors is growing (see Salt and the Earth, January 2024, p10*) and this latest work – led by Niels de Vries, first author on the study and head of energy at C-Job, and Koen Houtkoop and Zeno Leurs from Delft University of Technology – highlights several areas of this nascent technology that warrant further investigation. Here are just a few of the key insights from the study… *Visit the website to access E&H Marine’s archive of back issues Return on investment One possible drawback of nuclear-powered propulsion is the cost of its installation. However, the report details how this is offset by the low operational expenditures mentioned, and by the fact that a reactor can be used for its entire service life, either in a second ship or by extending the service life of the first ship. Group efforts C-Job Naval Architects is continuing to research nuclear energy for marine applications in an effort to reduce the shipping industry’s harmful emissions. The company is working with multiple stakeholders to scale down components and facilitate ship integration. Case studies The report considered two new-build cases: a container vessel and a bulk carrier. It determined that reactors with 25, 50 and 75 years of service life all develop higher economic speeds than conventional fuel-based options. Taking the plunge C-Job Naval Architects has received its first commission to conduct research into the design of a nuclear-powered commercial vessel – a move De Vries hopes will inspire more shipowners to learn about the system’s details and return on investment. “ It’s only when owners become willing to invest and build [nuclear-powered] ships that we can develop a concrete framework for the use of nuclear propulsion systems,” he explains. 48 // January 2025 // ElectricHybridMarineTechnology.com
Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International January 2025: Page 48
