Fortum starts cooperation in Estonian SMR deployment project

Nuclear in a Digital Age

Fortum, Estonian Fermi Energia and Belgian engineering company Tractebel have today signed MOUs to start enhanced cooperation on studying Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment project in Estonia, developed by Fermi Energia. Parties focus on researching a licensing model suitable for SMRs and preliminary siting study for light-water SMR deployment.

"Highest value of the MOU is in starting mutual learning through practical working with current nuclear energy producers. There is a high need to innovate many elements of nuclear energy deployment to be market competitive with other investments and by finding the best solutions together, we can be sure that there is mutual understanding for later stages of the deployment. With Baltic countries desynchronisation from Russian grid system and loss of imports from Russia by end of 2025 approaching fast, nuclear energy in form of SMRs becomes an important element in achieving reliable noncarbon power supplies for Baltic countries, “ said CEO and co-founder of Fermi Energia Kalev Kallemets.

With these agreements, Fermi Energia is becoming the leading EU SMR deployment project. "These MOUs establish cooperation to support Estonia with developed know-how and capacity on SMR deployment project so that nuclear energy can have strong contribution into achieving EU carbon neutrality in 2050”, said Denis Dumont, Tractebel General Manager Business Line Nuclear.

"Fortum has carried out R&D activities on SMRs for several years. SMRs are a potential future option to support the decarbonization of electricity and heat production. We are happy to cooperate with Fermi on this highly interesting topic" said Petra Lundström, Vice President, Nuclear Services at Fortum.

Fermi Energia is in discussion on similar MOUs with two other European utilities on in-depth analysis of spent fuel management and on SMR construction timing and planning. All studies will be completed by end of 2020 and made public in early 2021.

On 28 January 2020 Fortum and Tractebel will present at Fermi Energia annual conference in Tallinn results of their studies on “Milestones of SMR deployment program” and “Comparative analysis of licensed SMRs”.

Fermi Energia
Fermi Energia is a privately owned Small Modular Reactor deployment company seeking to achieve the first deployment of SMR in the European Union to achieve carbon neutrality and security of power supply in Estonia and the Baltics.

Tractabel
Tractebel is one of the world’s leading engineering and advisory companies delivering integrated services with a laser focus on unlocking opportunities for greater sustainability and a zero-carbon future.

Press release 28 Jan 2020, Fermi energia (in estonian)