DP World has signed an agreement with the French Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA) and the TerraWater Institute to assess whether small modular reactor (SMR) technology could help meet future electricity demand at the Port of Constanța in Romania.
The feasibility study will model projected port energy demand from 2030 to 2050 and assess whether nuclear-based energy systems could support port electrification.
“Rising demand from electrified equipment, shore power, AI data centres, residential heating and industrial activity is placing greater pressure on existing energy systems, driving demand for stable and scalable power. Nuclear energy, including SMRs, has the potential to provide consistent, low-carbon electricity for port operations and wider industrial use,” DP World said.
Nuclear SMRs could be “a competitive infrastructure differentiator” for ports, said Nicholas Mazzei, Vice President: Sustainability – Europe at DP World. “This study will help us better understand how nuclear energy can strengthen operational resilience and help meet rising demand.”
Stéphane Sarrade, Director of Energy Programmes at CEA, said: “We are applying advanced modelling and analysis to better understand how these solutions could support reliable, low-carbon energy for ports.”
Future development will require further technical assessment, regulatory review and stakeholder engagement, DP World said.
The study follows a memorandum of understanding signed last year as DP World explored the role of nuclear energy in its UK ports.
The company identified Romania as “a long-standing leader in nuclear energy in Europe with decades of operational experience and a strong focus on energy security”.
