Post the Fukushima incident, usage of nuclear power has been hugely condemned across the globe. But, shipping vessels and military ships powered by nuclear reactors have been there for quite some time without any incidents. Thus, the idea of a floating nuclear power station sounds brilliant! A unique vessel called Akademik Lomonoso is being built in Russia, which with its two modified KLT-40 naval propulsion reactors can together provide up to 70 MW of electricity or 300 MW of heat, which is enough for a city with a population of 200,000 people. The floating power plant can also be modified as a desalination plant able to produce 240,000 cubic meters of fresh water on a daily basis. By 2016 the vessel will be ready and spearhead the production of a series of floating nuclear power plants, which Russia plans to put into mass-production.


Russia receives one of the harshest winters in the world, some of the areas get cut off completely leaving them without electricity, heating or even drinking water. But what the country has is a huge coat line on its east and such a vessel will be a boon. Surprisingly, more than 15 other countries have shown interest in acquiring such a power station. The vessel itself is non-self-propelled and needs a towing ship to move. The vessel is built on an ice-breaking platform making it extremely rugged and safe from tsunami and in case of danger can simply be towed to a safer location.

[Via – RT]