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Brazil is looking for innovative and sustainable ways to supply energy to isolated systems and industrial units, and the floating nuclear power plant can be an excellent alternative.

Written by Bruno Teles
Published 13/02/2023 às 18:13
Updated 18/03/2023 às 14:02
floating nuclear power plant
Floating nuclear power plant (PHOTO/disclosure) IMAGE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE MEASURES

As the world strives to achieve the energy transition, the nuclear source has gained more and more importance, being identified as a fundamental part of the decarbonization process.

Therefore, in addition to the existing conventional nuclear power plants, there is also a growing interest in developing floating nuclear power plants. This technology promises to bring numerous benefits, from flexible and portable location to the possibility of providing clean and sustainable energy to remote areas. However, it is important to consider the possible risks associated with floating nuclear power plants before opting for them.

The former president of Eletronuclear, Leonam Guimarães, believes that Brazil has all the necessary conditions to build and operate floating nuclear power plants. According to him, these plants would be extremely beneficial for the country, as they could feed isolated systems in the Amazon and supply industrial units that are large consumers of electricity and industrial heat, such as the aluminum industry. 

In addition, one of the positive points is that there is already an infrastructure in place to build submarines for the Brazilian Navy, thus enabling the manufacture of domestic on-board reactors. In this way, according to Guimarães, Brazil would have a significant competitive advantage in the development of such facilities.

The history of floating nuclear power plant is old and started with the propulsion on land prototype of the nuclear submarine Nautilus, the first nuclear vehicle for electric power generation in the world. Since then, over 400 nuclear submarines have been built and operated very safely over the years. This technology has been used to produce electricity in a clean and safe way, contributing to the creation of a better future.

The United States, Germany, and Japan have created nuclear submarines for military purposes, as well as nuclear merchant ships for civilian use. Russia also has a fleet of nuclear icebreakers. In the 70s, the vessel Sturgis began operating in the Panama Canal, ensuring supply and operational functioning during the Vietnam War. Today, these ships play an important role in protecting marine life and natural resources, as well as providing clean and safe energy to coastal populations.

Submarines, ships and US nuclear icebreakers, Germany, Japan and Russia are military tools of great importance. The vessel Sturgis, for example, helped with supplies during the Vietnam War. Today, these ships not only protect marine life and natural resources, but also provide a clean and safe source of energy for coastal cities.

And what are the most recent uses of this type of power plant?

Countries are always looking for new solutions to power their remote regions. Russia, for example, recently adopted the ship Akademik Lomonosov, equipped with two PWR reactors of 35 MW each, to supply electricity to the Pevek region, on the coast of Siberia. In addition, China has ordered five floating units that will be used to bring power to small islands located in the South China Sea. 

For its part, the United States also decided to invest resources in floating power plants. And France is still studying submerged plants close to the European coast. Thus, technological innovations continue to be fundamental to guarantee access to energy in remote and isolated places.

Brazil has great possibilities of exploring floating nuclear power plants. These plants can provide clean and renewable energy for coastal communities, helping to reduce the environmental impact, as well as providing local jobs. They could also serve to monitor oceans and create energy more sustainably.

Furthermore, floating nuclear power plants could be used for military purposes, such as establishing a strategic naval presence in the region. This technology opens up a range of possibilities that can bring many benefits to Brazil!

The use of floating power plants to supply electricity in the Amazon is a visionary idea that is becoming increasingly realistic today. These plants offered excellent logistical advantages, such as reducing dependence on isolated fossil fuels, like diesel. Using this technology would also help improve the autonomy and energy security of these remote systems, in addition to contributing to the environment.

Floating plants offer a practical solution for supplying electricity in the Amazon, as they allow a nuclear reactor run for long periods without recharging. Additionally, when a resupply is needed, a replacement floating nuclear power plant can be moved to the region while the current unit is recharged at a specialized shipyard. 

These plants can also be used to feed large industries, such as aluminum, as they facilitate transport from the reactor to the site without the need for major works. The technology of floating plants provides many advantages and solutions for the lack of electricity in the Amazon region.

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Bruno Teles

I talk about technology, innovation, oil and gas. I update daily about opportunities in the Brazilian market. With more than 2.300 articles published in CPG. Agenda suggestion? Send it to brunotelesredator@gmail.com

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