The SEALER reactor
The collaboration focuses on key technical areas to transition the SEALER reactor from prototype to commercial readiness. These include designing control room and operator environments, developing instrumentation and control systems for remote and autonomous operation, and engineering core mechanical components such as shutdown assemblies and fuel handling systems. IFE will also assist in designing radiation shielding to meet stringent regulatory standards. The partnership emphasizes prototype development and component testing to enhance instrumentation for the reactor’s core, primary, and auxiliary systems, reducing risks associated with licensing and deployment.
Joint development efforts will take place in Sweden and Norway, aligning with SEALER’s licensing and industrialization timeline. The collaboration aims to elevate the technology’s readiness to meet industrial standards, accelerating its path to market.
Blykalla CEO Jacob Stedman expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We’re proud to work with the renowned research institute IFE. Strengthening Scandinavian collaboration feels both vital and natural at a time when technological sovereignty is becoming central to industrial growth and long-term sustainability. Partnerships between leading actors can make all the difference in bringing new technologies to market and securing a clean energy future for our region.”
Bjørn Axel Gran, vice president at IFE Nuclear, added: “We’re pleased that our competence and expertise will be used in the next stage of the nuclear area. Partnership with Blykalla allows them to take research into innovation and allows us to get first-hand learning of future research gaps.”
Blykalla plans to construct its first reactor, SEALER-One, in Nyköping, Sweden, in collaboration with nuclear operator Studsvik. The reactor will serve as a technology demonstration while producing steam for industrial applications, such as decarbonized biochar production through pyrolysis. The company targets achieving criticality by 2029 and is actively pursuing licensing. Long-term, Blykalla aims to deploy up to 1,000 SMRs by 2050, delivering 500 TWh of clean energy annually for industries like hydrogen production and process heat, supporting global carbon reduction and industrial resilience.
The partnership with IFE strengthens Blykalla’s efforts to deliver sustainable energy solutions, leveraging Scandinavian expertise to meet the growing demand for reliable, low-carbon power sources.
