The Stockholm-based company said it will investigate the conditions for building and operating a nuclear research reactor at Studsvik AB’s site, south of Stockholm, with associated infrastructure for fuel fabrication.
Leadcold said Studsvik AB, a supplier of nuclear analysis software and specialised services to the nuclear industry “views the initiative positively” and will participate in the feasibility study.
The Sealer-D (Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor) plant will have a thermal output of 80 MW with fuel rods will be cooled by 800 tonnes of liquid lead.
LeadCold wants the first 140 MWt Sealer-D commercial reactor to be ready for operation by 2030.
Leadcold chief executive officer Jacob Stedman said Sweden needs more baseload power that can complement the rapid and important expansion of wind and solar.
“This reactor will be the first step towards the next generation of nuclear for cheap and safe baseload electricity. We look forward to now starting to investigate the conditions for Sweden’s next research reactor in collaboration with Studsvik AB, the municipality and the authorities.”
Together with energy company Uniper, nuclear operator OKG and the Swedish Energy Agency, Leadcold is already planning to build an electric research reactor at OKG’s Oskarshamn nuclear site.
Leadcold and Uniper, majority owner of Oskarshamn, have received a grant of 99 million Swedish krona (€8.8m, $9.4m) from the Swedish Energy Agency and will begin construction this year, Leadcold said.
