Korean firms, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) have received an Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a new energy project. The plan involves a floating power module that uses small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) technology.
The floating unit is designed to generate electricity at sea or near shore. Its intended purpose is to support port operations and nearby communities that need steady power.
ABS confirmed that floating nuclear energy systems can help power microgrids, port machinery, industrial facilities, and even data centers. According to ABS, the SMR design uses lower-enrichment fuel than traditional nuclear reactors. The design also incorporates advanced safety features. These elements make it possible to explore offshore and marine uses for nuclear power.
This approval follows a previous one for a similar floating nuclear barge from HD KSOE. The companies have also worked with ABS on a nuclear-powered container ship capable of carrying 15,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEU).
This type of floating power generation is still being tested and studied. No commercial projects have been built yet, but the interest continues to grow due to the stable energy it could provide in coastal areas.
In South Korea, nuclear energy accounts for about 30% of the country’s electricity. Alongside this, other renewable projects continue to operate or develop. In Jeollanam-do, for example, a floating solar farm has been set up on the surface of a reservoir in Hapcheon. The solar panels cover about 41 hectares and generate 41 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
There is also the Gochang offshore wind demonstration zone. It includes a 60 MW pilot site that provides data for future offshore wind farms in deeper waters.
In Gyeonggi-do, small urban solar projects are appearing on public rooftops, such as schools and subway stations. These systems are often 100 to 300 kilowatts each and feed into local grids.
