RINA joins European Industrial Alliance on SMRs

Italian marine classification society RINA has become a member of the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) which aims to facilitate and accelerate the development, demonstration and deployment of SMRs in Europe by the early 2030s.

The alliance was launched by the European Commission in February 2024, announcing a call for membership applications.

As informed, the alliance has accepted RINA’s application to come onboard.

“As part of the European Alliance on Small Modular Reactors, we will leverage our expertise in the nuclear sector to drive progress towards a cleaner, brighter future. Together, we will pave the way for sustainable energy solutions that will shape the world for generations to come,” RINA said.

Specifically, SMRs offer low-carbon energy solutions at competitive costs, making them a game-changer in maritime and industrial applications. They are believed to have the potential to revolutionize energy production with their innovative safety features and minimal land use requirements.

The rise of SMRs points to a step change for nuclear applications in shipping if regulatory hurdles can be overcome, classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) recently said in a report.

In combination with other sources of clean energy, SMRs [< 300 Megawatt electric (MWe)] are expected to play an important role in achieving the clean energy transition and boosting energy security in Europe in the coming years by helping to decarbonize industry, produce low-carbon hydrogen and provide heat to industry and urban districts.

A year ago, RINA and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri decided to collaborate with newcleo, a London-based nuclear technology company developing Generation IV reactors using nuclear waste as fuel. The trio teamed up on a feasibility study for nuclear applications to the shipping industry, including newcleo’s lead-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs) technology.

Using clean nuclear energy to power marine vessels has the potential to rapidly decarbonize a sector grappling with huge fossil fuel consumption and its consequent carbon emissions.

Earlier this year, a global group of companies with a common interest in developing nuclear energy solutions for the maritime sector launched Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO).

By bringing together stakeholders with relevant expertise, NEMO aims to assist nuclear and maritime regulators in the development of appropriate standards and rules for the deployment, operation and decommissioning of floating nuclear power.