VTT spin-out to build SMRs for district heating

The nuclear startup – named Steady Energy - recently raised €2m to advance its technology. In development at VTT since 2020, the LDR-50 SMR operates at around 150 degrees Celsius and below 10 bar (145psi), delivering a heat output of 50MW. Steady Energy claims these conditions are less demanding than traditional reactors, making it inherently safer and easier to meet nuclear certification.

“The pressure required by the LDR-50 reactor is comparable to the pressure that of a household espresso machine,” said Steady Energy CEO, Tommi Nyman. “It operates at a lower pressure than a district heating network. This ensures that in case of a malfunction which leads to a leak, the leak is contained within the heating plant, without endangering people or the environment.”

Decarbonising domestic heating is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition, with around 50 per cent of all energy consumed by EU households going towards keeping homes warm. District heat consumption in Europe is approximately 500TWh, 300TWh of which is produced by fossil fuels.