Emerald Nuclear Norway has secured NOK 20 million in funding from the Research Council of Norway for its Marine Nuclear Propulsion System (MarNuPS) Pilot, which aims to develop and test an integrated nuclear propulsion system for offshore vessels.
The award was included in the Research Council’s funding results published on 23 September 2026. The first phase of the programme is estimated to cost approximately NOK 150 million, with participating companies contributing additional funding.
The project brings together Emerald Nuclear, offshore vessel operator Island Offshore, shipbuilder VARD Group, Vard Electro, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Imperial College London and Maskindynamikk.
The system is based on Emerald Nuclear‘s 5 MWe Gem Microreactor technology, integrated with energy storage, power conversion, automation and vessel control systems.
A full-scale integrated test is planned for 2027 at Stette, near Ålesund, Norway. Instead of using an operating nuclear reactor, the facility will employ electric heating to simulate the reactor’s thermal output, allowing the partners to evaluate system performance before further development and qualification.
Island Offshore aims to become the first shipowner to install the proposed reactor and energy system, targeting initial vessel deployment in 2031–2032.
The project builds on earlier Norwegian research into nuclear-powered offshore vessels, including the NuProShip II vessel design study undertaken by VARD.
According to the Research Council of Norway’s official funding results, the NOK 20 million award supports the MarNuPS pilot led by Emerald Nuclear Norway.
