The Week in Alt Fuels: The dark knight

As technologies advance, nuclear power holds potential to become a low-emission energy source for commercial shipping. But some challenges must be addressed to ensure its safe use.

Nuclear power, much like Batman, is often misunderstood and feared due to past disasters that raised concerns about safety, waste and weaponisation.

But dismissing it because of its past may be a mistake. When harnessed responsibly it holds potential to serve as a potent, low-emission energy source. In fact, the IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez confirmed that nuclear propulsion is being actively considered as a future marine fuel alternative, according to CORE Power.

Modern reactor technologies like molten salt reactors (MSRs), lead-cooled fast reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) offer safer nuclear power options. MSRs use liquid fluoride salts as both a coolant and fuel solvent, with thorium or uranium dissolved directly in the molten salt. Lead-cooled fast reactors use liquid lead as a coolant, offering excellent shielding in case of a leak. HTGRs use a helium coolant and ceramic fuel, providing efficiency at high temperatures.

Building modular rather than custom-made reactors can help cut emissions at the construction stage.

For instance, Danish startup Seaborg Technologies has proposed a floating nuclear power plant using a compact MSR designed with passive safety systems. Its nuclear fuel solidifies on contact with air, which contains radiation and prevents weaponisation.

Several shipping class societies and companies are exploring nuclear technologies for commercial shipping.

Maersk, Core Power and Lloyd’s Register are assessing the regulatory requirements and safety standards needed to operate a feeder ship with a fourth-generation nuclear reactor in a European port.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and class society RINA are evaluating whether Newcleo’s lead-cooled reactors can safely power larger vessels. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has?assessed?HTGRs to power LNG carriers. Nuclear power holds "significant potential" to tackle shipping emissions and provide other operational benefits to the industry, ABS said.

Despite its potential, significant challenges must be addressed to ensure this dark knight doesn’t become a villain. Mining for thorium and uranium can disrupt ecosystems and pollute water sources. Thorium produces less long-lived nuclear waste and does not require high enrichment, so using thorium instead of uranium may mitigate some environmental side-effects. But high prices for both fuels can lead to significant upfront investments. Leasing reactors, as suggested by Lloyd's Register, could help reduce costs.

Stringent protocols for fuel handling, waste disposal and safety must be developed before nuclear energy can be safely used in commercial shipping. There is also the risk of nuclear materials being diverted to black markets, posing security threats that require strict oversight to prevent unauthorized use. Addressing these issues is critical to making nuclear a viable renewable power and bunker fuel alternative.

Also in the news this week

Alternative fuel producers are unlikely to commit to large-scale investments without regulatory support, fuel production incentives and long-term purchase agreements, Methanex’ Denisse Abudinén?told?ENGINE.

The Port of Asyaport?became?the first port in Türkiye to offer shore power for container vessels. The?MSC Oscar, a 20,000 TEU container ship sailing between Asia and Europe, was the first vessel to connect to shore power there.

The Canadian government has?awarded?$16 million to EverWind to develop its green hydrogen and ammonia production facility at the Point Tupper terminal near Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia. The project will include a green ammonia "loading arm" to facilitate transfer of ammonia to and from ships.

The Biden administration?selected?55 ports across 27 US states to receive $3 billion in grants for deploying net-zero infrastructure and technologies. Selected projects include shore power installations and solar power generation.

By Konica Bhatt

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