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Ship powered by sustainable nuclear reactor produced by Microsoft is presented for the first time by Hyundai

Written by Roberta Souza
Published 16/03/2023 às 09:27
Hyundai, ship, Microsoft
Photo: Reproduction PortoseNavios

The ship project powered by a nuclear reactor is a way of decarbonizing the atmosphere thought by both companies, Hyundai and Microsoft

For the first time, Hyundai presented a specific ship project powered by a modular reactor (SMR) produced by Microsoft. The announcement was made by Hyundai Group, more specifically by its holding company Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, where the project takes into account a concept of a ship powered by a carbon-free nuclear reactor, according to the website Portos e Navios.

Microsoft's vessel project together with Hyundai is in the basic phase, with a 240 megawatt SMR powered vessel and 4 sets of 60 megawatts. This was the first time that Hyundai has disclosed the project in detail.

Hyundai ship's nuclear reactor design

The reactor, which has electrical power reaching almost 300 megawatts, will be placed at the bottom of the ship, where it will produce carbon-free fuel (such as hydrogen), which will be on top of the Hyundai ship's buoyancy.

If the hydrogen produced by the Hyundai ship is passed on at a lower price, it could increase competitiveness among Korean-produced environmentally friendly ships, according to experts. Hyundai's goal by the year 2025 is to develop a perfect hydrogen engine.

And Microsoft in the project?

Microsoft has invested $30 million in TerraPower in 2022, a sustainable nuclear reactor production company developed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Microsoft's project is to build an SMR in the United States, in Wyoming, by 2030.

In addition, Samsung Heavy Industries has developed an electric barge project for a compact molten salt reactor, a kind of SMR, receiving certificate from American Bureau of Shipping.

More about ships: For the first time, a school ship arrives in ES, embarking oceanography students from UFES to learn more about ROVs

On Thursday (9), a unique experience began for students of the Oceanography course at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes). Students will be on board until the 16th of this month on the school ship Ciência do Mar III, and will be able to take advantage of the available infrastructure to learn about the ROV. For this, the Floating Teaching Laboratory will make its first trip to Espírito Santo. Check out this article in full clicking herei.

Roberta Souza

Petroleum Engineer, postgraduate in Commissioning of Industrial Units, specialist in Industrial Corrosion. Get in touch to suggest an agenda, advertise job vacancies or advertise on our portal. We do not receive resumes

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