Imagine getting clean, reliable electricity from floating power stations off the coast. That’s exactly what a UK company called Core Power is planning to do in the next 10 years — and it could totally change how we think about nuclear energy.
Core Power wants to build a fleet of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) using the same kind of assembly-line approach used to build ships. The idea is to make clean energy faster, safer, and more flexible than ever before.
Why Floating Plants?
Right now, one of the biggest problems with building nuclear plants isn’t the actual reactor — it’s everything around it. From finding land, getting permits, and dealing with government red tape, building a traditional nuclear plant can take years, if not decades.
Core Power’s idea skips all that. Instead of building on land, they’ll use ships to carry nuclear reactors and anchor them just off the coast. That way, the energy is still close to where people need it, but the process becomes a lot easier and cheaper.
How It Works
At the center of each floating plant is something called a molten salt reactor — a type of advanced nuclear technology.
Here’s the simple version:
- Instead of solid fuel rods, these reactors use nuclear fuel mixed with liquid salt.
- This mix runs at normal pressure, which is safer than traditional designs.
- It doesn’t need complex cooling systems because it uses natural circulation.
- And unlike older reactors, it can’t “melt down” in the scary way you might see in movies.
- Even better, Core Power says these reactors won’t need to be refueled during their entire working life.
More Than Just Electricity
Floating nuclear power plants won’t just supply energy to nearby cities or industries. Core Power sees a future where these reactors help in other ways too, like:
- Desalination – turning seawater into clean drinking water.
- Making green hydrogen – a clean fuel that could power vehicles or factories.
- Powering ships directly – reducing the need for fossil fuels in the shipping industry.
- It’s a bold plan that could help cut carbon emissions while also meeting rising energy demands.
What's Next?
Core Power is calling this project the “Liberty Program”, a nod to the quickly built Liberty ships during World War II. They aim to start taking orders for the floating plants by 2028, and begin delivering them in the early 2030s.
According to the company’s CEO, Mikal Bøe, this plan could open up a $2.6 trillion market and bring reliable, clean power to coastal areas where most economic activity happens.
He believes this could revolutionize global trade and maritime industries by making energy both mobile and secure.
It’s a big vision — and if it works, the future of nuclear energy might just float.
Source: https://www.corepower.energy/news/core-power-launches-liberty-maritime-…
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