Construction giant Samsung C&T has recently joined forces with Swedish energy company Kärnfull Next. Under this collaborative agreement, both companies will jointly develop small modular reactor (SMR) campuses under the Swedish SMR program. The announcement was made during the Korea-Sweden Strategic Industry Summit in Seoul on December 5.
Se-Chul Oh, CEO of Samsung C&T noted,
“We are proud to partner with Kärnfull Next. By combining our experience in global nuclear projects with their expertise in project development, we are confident that we can help meet Sweden’s future energy needs.”
Kärnfull Next Expanding SMRs Across Southern Sweden
Kärnfull’s partnership with Samsung C&T furthers its commitment to advancing innovative energy solutions. This partnership will accelerate the development of SMR campuses under Kärnfull Next’s Re:Firm South program, which focuses on establishing carbon-free, dispatchable energy solutions in southern Sweden.
Furthermore, this partnership bolsters the initiative by incorporating expertise in design, licensing, environmental assessments, and SPV project financing. Together, the companies will focus on efficient construction and ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Driving Economies of Scale
Kärnfull Next has conducted extensive pre-feasibility studies since 2022, evaluating municipalities for their SMR potential. The company aims to expand its scale by establishing multiple SMR parks under the same program. This approach streamlines technology selection, construction partnerships, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and financing.
Valdemarsvik Municipality was announced as a new candidate site for Kärnfull Next’s SMR initiative. Located on Sweden’s southeastern coast in Östergötland, the site can potentially host four to six small light water reactors, generating 10–15 terawatt-hours (TWh) of clean electricity annually. Notably, last year Sweden’s entire nuclear fleet produced 47 TWh last year.
SMR campuses, under the Re:Firm South program, will co-locate at least two reactors to ensure reliable, clean power. These facilities will supply nuclear energy to the national grid and cater to energy-intensive operations, such as AI data centers across the Nordics, through direct or indirect PPAs.
PROJECT OVERVIEW – FROM IDEA TO OPERATIONS
Source: Kärnfull Next
A New Path Toward Fossil-Free Energy
Kärnfull Next envisions SMR technology to fuel Sweden’s clean energy future. By combining direct energy sales with SMR-generated electricity, the company enhances accessibility to full-scale fossil-free power. This model not only meets increasing energy demands but also pushes nuclear energy as vital to the nation’s sustainability goals.
Most importantly what they seek to achieve is- minimizing costs, carbon emissions, and environmental footprint.
Christian Sjölander, CEO and co-founder of Kärnfull Next.
“With a global leader like Samsung C&T at our side, providing expertise in areas like project financing and advanced construction, we are taking the next step toward making SMRs a reality, contributing to Sweden’s goal of new nuclear power by 2035. Their experience and scale provide invaluable resources to transform our vision into action.”
The collaboration between Kärnfull Next and Samsung C&T will initiate the first project to start construction by the late 2020s.
Samsung C&T: Pioneering Nuclear Export Projects
Samsung C&T has an outstanding history in global nuclear energy projects making it a leader in this clean energy space. The company’s collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation was crucial for the construction and infrastructure development of Barakah, showcasing its expertise in advanced project execution.
Notably, the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE is one of the largest commercial nuclear facilities in the world. The plant, with a capacity of 5,600 MW, marked South Korea’s first successful nuclear export project. The facility utilizes APR1400 reactors, an advanced light water reactor technology offering 1,400 MW output and a 60-year operational lifespan.
Another milestone as a nuclear infrastructure developer is its active involvement in Romania’s NuScale SMR project, contributing to the design, procurement, and construction stages of SMRs.
Moving ahead, Samsung C&T is spreading its wings across Europe, leveraging its experience in nuclear energy to establish recycling systems for critical materials. This effort aligns with the rising demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt due to the EV boom. The company aims to secure environmentally sustainable sources for these metals, further strengthening its presence in the European market.
Net Zero Goals: Carbon Neutral by 2050
Samsung C&T aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The company’s strategy includes 100% renewable energy adoption and a 58% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. As per its sustainability report,
- In 2023, the company aimed for 174,381 tCO2e in greenhouse gas emissions, with an actual output of 176,443 tCO2e. For 2025, it plans to reduce emissions further to 147,796 tCO2e.
Source: Samsung C&T
Samsung C&T’s advanced expertise in nuclear energy construction makes it an ideal partner to drive Kärnfull Next’s SMR initiatives in Sweden. Overall, this collaboration will not only accelerate the development of future SMR campuses but also play a crucial role in decarbonizing Sweden’s data centers in the future.
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