US-based NuScale Power has signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian marine nuclear power developer Prodigy Clean Energy and engineering and testing company Kinectrics to explore the development of a regulatory framework for the licensing and deployment of a Prodigy marine-deployed nuclear power station (MPS) powered by a NuScale small modular reactor.

The MPS, which would integrate one to 12 NuScale power modules into a marine-based but stationary nuclear power plant system, would offer a baseload energy generation solution to replace fossil fuel power plants, the three companies said in a statement.

The MPS would be shipyard-fabricated, and transported by sea to its deployment location, where it would be moored in place in sheltered and protected waters at the shoreline. Once berthed, the plant would be connected to the existing shore-side transmission system, avoiding the significant capital costs associated with terrestrial nuclear power plant deployments.

It would generate scalable and reliable electricity and heat with zero greenhouse gas emissions for on-grid and off-grid locations, at dramatically reduced cost and schedule risk, the statement said.