Planning initiative submitted for lead-cooled SMR power plant on Svalbard

Stockholm, Sweden

Blykalla’s project company Svalbard Kjernekraft AS has, together with Norsk Kjernekraft, today submitted a planning initiative for a SEALER in Longyearbyen. This marks the first formal step on the road toward building the facility.

The reactor will replace the temporary diesel setup that was introduced after Longyearbyen’s coal power plant closed in 2023. It will deliver reliable, fossil-free electricity and district heating all year round, in a location where limited grid capacity and extreme weather conditions otherwise make clean power production difficult. 

With the planning initiative submitted, the next stage is for the Governor of Svalbard to set the scope of the environmental impact assessment. Once that is in place, detailed studies and stakeholder consultations can begin, paving the way for the licensing process and eventual construction.

“We are proud that this Swedish technology can deliver stable, emissions-free power to Svalbard. Our lead-cooled reactors are ideal for this kind of remote application,” says Janne Wallenius, co-founder and CTO at Blykalla.

The Longyearbyen project will also serve as a showcase for how advanced SMR technology can help secure energy supply in places with limited energy capacity, both in the Nordics and around the world.

For more information:

Alexandra Wyler
Communications Manager Blykalla
+46 768 61 73 73
alexandra.wyler@blykalla.com