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Study to explore SMRs for renewable materials

Posted on by darion

Swedish company Blykalla, formerly Leadcold, has announced its participation in a new project focused on integrating small modular reactors (SMRs) with thermochemical processes to produce renewable materials such as biochar and bio-oil. The aim is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase energy efficiency in the Swedish steel and chemical industries.

The project focuses on using the heat generated by SMRs to power thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The goal is to produce renewable materials that can replace fossil fuel-based products in the steel and chemical industries. By combining SMRs with these processes, the project aims to maximize resource efficiency and contribute to Sweden’s goal of being completely fossil-free by 2045.

The project has received a total of SEK 10.37 billion (USD 968,000 million) in funding, with the Swedish Energy Agency covering 96.4% of the costs. The project is the result of cooperation between several key players in the field of sustainable energy and industrial processes, including:

  • RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: project manager responsible for research and development of thermochemical processes, in particular pyrolysis and HTC.
  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology: investigating how best to integrate heat from small miniature reactors (SMRs) into industrial processes for optimal energy transfer and efficiency.
  • Envigas: a biochar company dedicated to assessing the feasibility of using biochar as a sustainable alternative in industrial applications.
  • SSAB: a leading steelmaker tasked with assessing the quality and feasibility of using biochar in steel production to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
  • Blykalla: SMR developer to ensure efficient integration of reactors into the overall process.

The project will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy system in Sweden, with potential applications beyond the steel and chemical industries. By developing a practical and scalable approach to integrating SMRs into renewable materials production, the project supports Sweden’s climate goals and also sets a precedent for similar initiatives worldwide. The results are expected to have far-reaching implications, providing a model for other countries and industries looking to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency.

Blykalla, a spin-off from KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) founded in 2013, is developing SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead-cooled Reactor), a fast, compact, lead-cooled reactor with passive safety. Each reactor will have a power of 55 MWe/140 MWt, which can be scaled up by installing multiple units on the same site. The reactor is designed with the smallest possible core that can achieve criticality in the fast spectrum using 19.9% ​​enriched nitride fuel. Blykalla aims to have its first reactor, SEALER-55, up and running by 2030.