Samsung Heavy Industries Collaborates with U.S. Nuclear Design Firm to Jointly Develop Floating SMR Platform

Priority Partnership with S&L
Accelerating the Commercialization of Floating Nuclear Power

Samsung Heavy Industries has officially commenced the development of Floating Small Modular Reactor (FSMR) technology, marking a strategic move into the next-generation offshore energy infrastructure market.

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on July 22 that it signed a mutual priority cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sargent & Lundy (S&L), a leading U.S. nuclear power plant design and engineering company, on July 21 (local time) for the development of a universal FSMR standard platform.

On the 21st (local time) in Washington D.C., USA, Kyunghee Kim, Head of Future Business Division at Samsung Heavy Industries (left), and Siben Sulka, Chief Nuclear Officer at Sargent & Lundy, took a commemorative photo after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual priority cooperation. Samsung Heavy Industries

FSMR is a next-generation offshore nuclear power platform that generates electricity by loading small modular reactors (SMRs) onto maritime floating structures. With the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, electricity demand has surged. As a result, FSMRs are gaining attention as an effective energy infrastructure solution for coastal and island regions where securing land-based sites or connecting to the power grid is challenging.

This agreement was established to commercialize the FSMR project, which is currently at the conceptual design stage. The two parties plan to develop a universal FSMR standard platform that is not limited to a specific reactor type, providing versatility to accommodate various reactor models and expanding the range of options available to shipowners and customers.

In addition, to visualize the commercial deployment of the FSMR standard platform at an early stage, both companies have agreed to collaborate on key aspects of FSMR commercialization. This includes development, licensing support, construction planning, and offshore deployment strategies. Technical advancements will also be pursued to ensure compliance with international and U.S. regulatory standards.

Samsung Heavy Industries expects to establish a strong foundation for entry into the offshore nuclear market by combining its offshore plant EPC capabilities with S&L's nuclear power plant design and engineering expertise.

Siben Sulka, Chief Nuclear Officer (Vice President) of S&L, stated, "This collaboration between S&L and Samsung Heavy Industries on FSMR development represents important progress for America's future clean energy. By combining S&L's leadership in nuclear engineering with Samsung Heavy Industries' proven offshore platform expertise, we aim to accelerate the development of FSMRs tailored to the U.S. market and provide flexible pathways for power utilities, coastal states, and federal agencies to adopt nuclear power."

Kyunghee Kim, Head of the Future Business Division (Vice President) at Samsung Heavy Industries, said, "Our partnership with S&L, a global leader in nuclear plant design and engineering, is a milestone that will take Samsung Heavy Industries' FSMR technology to the next level. We are committed to accelerating the advancement of FSMR technology as a next-generation growth engine, and we intend to lead the global offshore nuclear power market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.