SMRs could be part of Port of Rotterdam's future, says study

Commissioned by SmartPort, Deltalinqs, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Province of South Holland, the study assessed the potential of the port of Rotterdam and its industrial ecosystem within the future small modular reactor (SMR) supply chain.

One of the study's key findings is that the port of Rotterdam already has a strong foundation on which to build. The port combines a large industrial ecosystem with extensive logistics capabilities, maritime expertise and strong connections to the European hinterland. The study team identified 92 companies in and around the port that could potentially contribute to the SMR supply chain. Their capabilities range from transport, logistics and heavy haulage to mechanical and electrical systems, industrial services, specialised components and integrated modules.

"The port therefore does not need to manufacture complete nuclear reactors to become relevant to this emerging market," Belgian engineering firm Tractebel said. "The study indicates that the greatest opportunities lie in non-nuclear components and services, areas in which much of the required expertise and infrastructure is already present across the port's ecosystem."

The study says the port of Rotterdam's eventual role will depend on its level of ambition and on how the SMR market develops. The joint study identifies four potential strategic roles, ranging from serving as a logistics and transit hub for SMR components to developing an industrial ecosystem for the construction and integration of modules and components. Over the longer term, broader roles could emerge, including becoming a strategic European port for nuclear-powered vessels and other maritime applications, or a location for nuclear-related industrial activities.

"Rotterdam's established maritime and offshore ecosystem could provide a particularly promising basis for future offshore and maritime SMR applications," according to Tractebel. "Given the current level of technological maturity and the regulatory challenges involved, however, these opportunities are expected to develop over a longer timeframe."

The report - titled Preliminary Study on the SMR Supply Chain Potential for the Port of Rotterdam - recommends defining Rotterdam's desired strategic role, establishing a public-private collaboration platform, and developing a shared proposition and action plan. Potential next steps include connecting Rotterdam-based companies with SMR developers and suppliers, building a qualified workforce, and creating the right regulatory conditions.