Samsung Heavy Industries Sets Sights on Nuclear Powered Ships to Combat Climate Change

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries has announced plans to develop nuclear power plant technology for ships as the industry seeks ways to reduce and eventually eliminate its carbon emissions.

SHI has reached an agreement with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) to research and develop Molten Salt Reactors (MSR) technology for use in floating power plants and in ships.

SHI sees MSR technology as a potential ‘zero-carbon energy source’ that can help the shipping industry achieve its ambition of slashing its greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050 and eliminate them entirely by the end of the century. The shipbuilder said it plans to pioneer the MSR-based floating nuclear power plant and nuclear-powered ship market.

“MSR is a carbon-free energy source that can efficiently respond to climate change issues and is a next-generation technology that meets the vision of Samsung Heavy Industries. We plan to focus on R&D to become a new future growth engine,” said SHI president Jintaek Jeong.

The agreement with KAERI includes joint research plans for MSR technology and related equipment, such as heat exchangers; offshore nuclear product design and business model development; and performance verification and economic evaluation.

SHI says MSR technology is promising because of the module reactor size, high-efficiency power generation, and high level of safety. If an abnormal signal occurs, it is designed to solidify the molten salt in the reactor to prevent serious accidents.

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