Yacht owners are keen to power their luxury voyages with nuclear energy, according to a new report from Lloyd’s Register, Fuel for Thought: Nuclear for Yachts. The latest report in Lloyd’s series of alternate fuels for the yachting industry suggests a revolutionary transformation in the offing.
As part of the strategy to achieve net zero emissions, countries are keen to adopt electrified modes of transportation, such as electric vehicles. While this approach will help reign in carbon emissions, a similar approach is needed for the shipping industry, which is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
The yachting industry has also been blamed for its large emissions while serving only a handful of people. Yachts belong to the super- and ultra-rich and are known as fuel-guzzling machines with large carbon footprints. But a revolutionary change could set in soon after owners show a willingness to power them with nuclear energy.
Seven-decade long experience
The idea of using a nuclear reactor to power a yacht might sound innovative. However, the naval industry isn’t new to this concept and has been practicing it for over seven decades.
For decades, navies of major countries have used nuclear propulsion to power their submarines. Russian icebreakers use nuclear fuel as well and operate in some of the extreme environmental conditions on the planet.
Even though nuclear reactors on the ground have encountered issues, reactors used in ships and submarines have operated for decades without raising any safety concerns. With nuclear reactor technology advancing in the form of small modular reactors (SMR) and micro reactors, its application for the propulsion of yachts and ships is an attractive prospect.
The greatest advantage of nuclear propulsion is the availability of a carbon-free source of power. But as LR’s report points out, it has multiple other advantages.
Submarines have used nuclear propulsion for decades without any safety concerns. Image credit: Imaginima/iStock
A revolutionary switch for yachts
With uranium being a much more energy-dense fuel than diesel, yachts could become much more energy-efficient and capable of being driven at much higher speeds than ever before. Moreover, a compact fuel could be stored in a much smaller space, leaving much more space for onboard amenities.
Nuclear-powered icebreakers typically need refueling once every five to seven years. New-age submarines are designed to work their entire lifespan of over 30 years without any refueling. Since refueling a nuclear reactor is a process that needs to be completed by specialists, a similar approach could be taken with nuclear-powered yachts, too.
The freedom from having to refuel could also open up options for longer voyages and the ability to travel longer distances on yachts. While the cost of nuclear fuel would be higher upfront, given its long operational lifespan, it is still expected to be cost-competitive with conventional fuels.
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The question that needs to be addressed is when yachts should switch to such propulsion. According to the report, yacht owners are split on whether these changes should be made before the end of the decade or rolled out over a longer horizon after technologies under development reach a certain maturity.
“Nuclear energy offers the potential to be as transformational to shipping as the shift from wood to iron or from sail to steam,” said Engel-Jan de Boer, Global Yacht Segment Director, Lloyd’s Register, in a press release. “Unlike alternative fuels that might serve as direct replacements for traditional oil-fired systems, nuclear power represents a fundamental shift that could redefine luxury yachting.”
Ameya Paleja Ameya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.
