Floating 10 MW nuclear reactor proposed for California: barge-mounted SMR aims to power 15,000 homes
Bluecore Energy proposes floating small modular reactor at Long Beach, aiming to power 15,000 homes despite regulatory hurdles.
A startup company called Bluecore Energy is proposing the construction of a floating 10 MW nuclear reactor on a barge near California's Port of Long Beach. The reactor could potentially power around 15,000 homes, according to the company's CEO Kofi Asante. Bluecore has leased space at Berth 48 within the port for the development and testing of their floating reactor system, which operates on water-cooled nuclear fission similar to conventional land-based plants.
However, California has maintained a moratorium on new nuclear power construction since 1976 due to unresolved questions about high-level radioactive waste disposal. It is uncertain how this state restriction would apply to Bluecore's proposed floating reactor design. Federal approval through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has not yet been sought, with the company scheduled to meet with the NRC to present its plans.
The Port of Long Beach, along with the Maritime Administration and federal agencies, are working together to establish safety protocols for maritime nuclear power use. The company's reactor system is scalable and could potentially serve port operations and ships. While the project remains in the development and regulatory-planning stage, a successful implementation could make Long Beach an early American test case for maritime small modular reactors serving port infrastructure.
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