Floating Nuclear Reactors: The Engineering Behind Russia's Akademik Lomonosov and What Comes Next

# Floating Nuclear Reactors: The Engineering Behind Russia's Akademik Lomonosov and What Comes Next

In 2019, Russia towed a nuclear power plant to the Arctic — the Akademik Lomonosov, moored at Pevek in Chukotka to supply power and heat to ~50,000 people. The engineering required to keep a pressurized water reactor operational in Arctic conditions is worth examining carefully.

## Akademik Lomonosov: Operational Data

Two KLT-40S reactors, 70 MW total output. The vessel is towed to a mainland shipyard for every 3-year refueling cycle — eliminating fuel handling infrastructure at the remote site. Capacity factors above 85% through 2025, supplying ~44% of regional electricity demand.

## Wave, Seismic, and Passive Cooling Engineering

Catenary mooring manages wave loads. Seismic isolation is paradoxically better than land-based plants — the water column attenuates ground motion. Passive cooling uses an unlimited seawater heat sink, making post-Fukushima cooling loss scenarios far less acute.

## South Korean SMART Barge and Regulatory Challenges

KAERI's SMART reactor (100 MWe, barge-mounted) completed IAEA Generic Reactor Safety Review in 2015 — the first SMR to do so. Target markets: Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Saudi NEOM. The regulatory challenge is jurisdictional overlap between maritime law and national nuclear regulatory authority. LCOE estimates for next-generation floating SMRs target $80–130/MWh, competitive against diesel in extreme remote locations.

Floating Nuclear Reactors: The Engineering Behind Russia's Akademik Lomonosov and What Comes Next

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