Aug 15, 2025
Development of the SMR plant on Svalbard is advancing.
In June 2023, Swedish lead-cooled SMR technology developer Blykalla and Norwegian nuclear project developer Norsk Kjernekraft announced the formation of a joint project company, Svalbard Kjernekraft AS.
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the Svalbard archipelago, relied on coal for power until 2023. After the coal plant's closure, temporary diesel systems were installed, leading to increased costs and decreased reliability. Blykalla and Norsk Kjernekraft plan to construct a compact SMR to connect with the existing electricity and district heating grid, replacing the old coal infrastructure.
Svalbard Kjernekraft has submitted a planning initiative for a SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor) lead-cooled SMR in Longyearbyen. The report outlines the project, local conditions, and suggests topics for further study, including environmental impact, safety, waste management, societal ripple effects, and impacts on local businesses and employment. The final site for the nuclear power plant will be determined through environmental impact assessment.
"With the planning initiative submitted, the next step is for the Governor of Svalbard to define the scope of the environmental impact assessment," said Blykalla. "Once established, detailed studies and consultations can commence, leading to the licensing process and eventual construction."
"We are proud that this Swedish technology can provide stable, emissions-free power to Svalbard," remarked Blykalla co-founder and CTO Janne Wallenius. "Our lead-cooled reactors are well-suited for such remote applications."
The Longyearbyen project will showcase how advanced SMR technology can ensure energy supply in areas with limited energy capacity, both in the Nordics and globally.
Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer stated, "This partnership signifies a new chapter in Norway's history as a polar nation. Reliable, affordable energy is essential for Norway to maintain its sovereignty in Svalbard, particularly given the current geopolitical climate. With the closure of the coal plant, nuclear power is the only long-term solution for energy security without fossil fuels."
In February 2023, Blykalla and Norsk Kjernekraft signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on deploying Blykalla's SEALER in Scandinavia. The MoU outlines plans to assess the business case for integrating SEALER into Norsk Kjernekraft's ongoing projects, including site suitability, regulatory paths, and economic feasibility in Norway. Additionally, it addresses collaboration on licensing, financing, construction, and operational aspects of Blykalla's first reactor, SEALER-One, in Sweden, with a commitment to explore electricity provision to remote areas.
Blykalla, previously known as LeadCold, is a spin-off from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where lead-cooled reactor systems have been in development since 1996. Founded in 2013 as a joint stock company, it is developing the SEALER SMR.
SEALER-One, Blykalla's inaugural nuclear reactor and commercial venture, will showcase its technology while facilitating pyrolysis for industrial clients to produce decarbonised biochar. The company aims to achieve criticality for SEALER-One by 2029.
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the Svalbard archipelago, relied on coal for power until 2023. After the coal plant's closure, temporary diesel systems were installed, leading to increased costs and decreased reliability. Blykalla and Norsk Kjernekraft plan to construct a compact SMR to connect with the existing electricity and district heating grid, replacing the old coal infrastructure.
Svalbard Kjernekraft has submitted a planning initiative for a SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor) lead-cooled SMR in Longyearbyen. The report outlines the project, local conditions, and suggests topics for further study, including environmental impact, safety, waste management, societal ripple effects, and impacts on local businesses and employment. The final site for the nuclear power plant will be determined through environmental impact assessment.
"With the planning initiative submitted, the next step is for the Governor of Svalbard to define the scope of the environmental impact assessment," said Blykalla. "Once established, detailed studies and consultations can commence, leading to the licensing process and eventual construction."
"We are proud that this Swedish technology can provide stable, emissions-free power to Svalbard," remarked Blykalla co-founder and CTO Janne Wallenius. "Our lead-cooled reactors are well-suited for such remote applications."
The Longyearbyen project will showcase how advanced SMR technology can ensure energy supply in areas with limited energy capacity, both in the Nordics and globally.
Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer stated, "This partnership signifies a new chapter in Norway's history as a polar nation. Reliable, affordable energy is essential for Norway to maintain its sovereignty in Svalbard, particularly given the current geopolitical climate. With the closure of the coal plant, nuclear power is the only long-term solution for energy security without fossil fuels."
In February 2023, Blykalla and Norsk Kjernekraft signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on deploying Blykalla's SEALER in Scandinavia. The MoU outlines plans to assess the business case for integrating SEALER into Norsk Kjernekraft's ongoing projects, including site suitability, regulatory paths, and economic feasibility in Norway. Additionally, it addresses collaboration on licensing, financing, construction, and operational aspects of Blykalla's first reactor, SEALER-One, in Sweden, with a commitment to explore electricity provision to remote areas.
Blykalla, previously known as LeadCold, is a spin-off from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where lead-cooled reactor systems have been in development since 1996. Founded in 2013 as a joint stock company, it is developing the SEALER SMR.
SEALER-One, Blykalla's inaugural nuclear reactor and commercial venture, will showcase its technology while facilitating pyrolysis for industrial clients to produce decarbonised biochar. The company aims to achieve criticality for SEALER-One by 2029.