Sweden's Blykalla applies to build eight lead-cooled SMRs in Tierp

Swedish nuclear engineering company Blykalla submitted an application to the Swedish government on August 25 for approval to build a new nuclear power plant, planning to construct up to eight SEALER-type lead-cooled small modular reactors in the Önterå area of Tierp, Sweden. The project is proposed to be located between Uppsala and Gävle, near the Önterå and Söderfors hydropower stations.

Blykalla CEO Jacob Stedman stated that the company surveyed approximately 50 to 70 potential sites across Sweden before finalizing the location, with a focus on finding areas where power could be generated locally and connected directly to the grid. According to the plan, the total installed capacity of the Tierp project is expected to reach up to 440 MW, with a target of entering operation in the first half of the 2030s.

Founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Blykalla focuses on developing small modular reactors cooled by liquid lead. Compared with traditional nuclear reactors that use water as a coolant, lead-cooled technology can operate under lower pressure conditions, thereby reducing engineering risks associated with high-pressure systems.

The company believes that the Önterå area has the conditions for developing an energy cluster, enabling dispatchable nuclear power to complement adjustable hydropower. Meanwhile, the Swedish national grid operator (Svenska kraftnät) is advancing new 400 kV power infrastructure in Tierp, which is also considered an important factor in the site's capacity to accommodate new generation connections.

This is not the first time Blykalla has applied to build a new nuclear project in Sweden. Previously, the company applied to build a facility comprising six small modular reactors in Norsundet, north of Gävle. The two projects are currently planned to follow a similar development pace, both requiring multi-year permitting processes.

Under Sweden's relevant procedures, government review is only the first step toward project realization. If government approval is granted, the project will also need to undergo further review by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, the Land and Environment Court, and the Tierp Municipality. Only after completing the relevant licensing procedures can the facility proceed to the construction and operation phases.

In addition to domestic projects in Sweden, Blykalla is also building a demonstration reactor in the United States. Several companies in Sweden have recently submitted applications for new nuclear construction, involving locations such as Barsebäck, Varberg, Nyköping, and Valdemarsvik.