Cost-competitive, zero-carbon heat that could replace up to 75% of fossil-fuel-based industrial heat production
Blue Capsule is developing a safe, powerful, and durable small modular reactor (SMR) to provide industrial process heat up to 750 °C, steam, or electricity. The high-temperature reactor (HTR) technology is similar to the one Google is banking on for its data centers.
High-temperature nuclear reactor for industrial heat production. Credit: Blue Capsule
Industrial process heat, 75% of which is produced by burning natural gas, coal, or oil, is responsible for 10% of global GHG emissions. Blue Capsule is leveraging a CEA patent to develop a high-temperature, sodium-cooled nuclear reactor capable of delivering up to 150 MW of heat at 750°C, a temperature out of reach of most nuclear reactor technologies. The expected service life of the reactor, which can also generate steam at 650 °C or 50 MW of electricity, is at least 40 years.
The startup is directly addressing the energy challenges of hard-to-abate industries. Blue Capsule reactors use ambient air for cooling and can therefore be installed in arid climates. They run on TRISO (tri-structural isotopic) fuel, known for its high level of safety. Several reactors can be combined to meet specific customer requirements.
Two of the three founders were CEA employees, and joint R&D will continue under contract with the CEA. The first Blue Capsule reactor will be commissioned by 2035.
Key figure: 750 °C
A Blue Capsule reactor can produce industrial process heat at up to 750 °C, compared with 400 °C for most competing solutions.
KEY Markets:
Cement plants
Low-carbon hydrogen production
Alumina-type production
Chemical production: soda ash, ammonia, etc.
Ports, large construction sites, and industrial parks
Technologies used:
Year founded: 2022
CEA Institute: CEA-DES