A Structured Contractual Framework
The JDA defines the respective roles of the two partners in the electrical development of the prototype, while setting the framework for the future 80 MW thermal demonstration reactor SEALER-D and commercial units. ABB becomes a key partner for automation, control systems and control room equipment, subject to future supply agreements. The agreement also includes cybersecurity frameworks to ensure compliance with nuclear safety regulations. This partnership reflects a broader renewed interest in advanced nuclear, as illustrated by the Brookfield et TNC créent une coentreprise nucléaire aux États-Unis and the Production nucléaire mondiale record en 2024, portée par l’Asie.
In October 2024, Blykalla and ABB had already signed an MoU to explore automation, electrification and digitalization for the SEALER-E prototype. A year earlier, in September 2023, another MoU aimed to accelerate the deployment of these lead-cooled SMRs for the maritime market. The move to a JDA reflects a desire to turn intentions into contractual commitments.
Industrial Goals and Prospects
Jacob Stedman, CEO of Blykalla, stated that the JDA provides “the industrial backing SEALER needs to reach commercial scale and accelerate deployment.” Daniela Bok, head of ABB’s Energy Industries division in Sweden, highlighted that “early involvement of our engineers and nuclear specialists allows us to co-create the next generation of reactors, providing a stable low-carbon energy source.”
Blykalla, a spin-off from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, has been developing the SEALER technology since 1996. The company, founded in 2013, expects a first 140 MWt commercial SEALER-55 reactor to be operational in the early 2030s. The 80 MWt SEALER-D demonstrator is intended to prove the viability of the lead-cooled concept, which promises enhanced safety and simplified systems.