Can Floating Nuclear Power Find a Role in the Energy Transition?

Floating nuclear power is emerging as one of the more unconventional ideas in the global clean energy debate, offering reliable, zero-carbon electricity from reactor units mounted on floating platforms and positioned offshore near coastal demand centres. Instead of constructing large plants on complex land-based sites, developers propose building reactors in shipyards, towing them to location and connecting them to onshore grids — aiming to reduce construction risk while maintaining the steady output associated with nuclear power.

The concept is gaining traction as governments look for firm, low-carbon energy sources to complement renewables and support electrification of ports, industrial clusters and island grids.

In the UK, Core Power has positioned itself at the forefront of this model. The company’s “Liberty” programme targets deployment in the mid-2030s, with plans to mass-manufacture floating nuclear power plants and moor them near ports and coastal infrastructure. Core Power is working with Westinghouse Electric Company to explore reactor integration, including advanced microreactor designs.

The idea is not entirely new. Rosatom has already deployed the world’s first commercial floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, which began supplying electricity to the remote Arctic town of Pevek in 2020. Built in a shipyard and towed into position, the plant provides power and heat in a region where conventional infrastructure is difficult to build, demonstrating that offshore nuclear generation is technically viable.

However, the Russian project operates within a state-led financing and regulatory system. Bringing floating nuclear to Western markets would require navigating more complex licensing regimes, securing commercial power agreements and addressing public acceptance. While the engineering concept has been proven, broader commercial deployment remains at an early stage.

Supporters argue floating nuclear could enable faster deployment through shipyard fabrication and flexible siting close to demand. Critics raise questions around economics, security, insurance and licensing complexity in already tightly regulated nuclear markets.

As policymakers search for dependable low-carbon power to sit alongside wind and solar, widespread floating nuclear deployment is moving from theoretical concept toward serious industrial and regulatory consideration — with the next decade likely to determine whether it remains niche or becomes a meaningful part of the global energy mix.