Blykalla and ABB partner to develop SMR pilot facility in Sweden for nuclear innovation
Swedish nuclear power company Blykalla has joined forces with engineering giant ABB to develop an electric small modular reactor (SMR) pilot facility in Oskarshamn, southern Sweden. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on SMR technology that aligns with Sweden’s clean energy and decarbonisation goals.
This initial project will focus on constructing a testing facility for Blykalla’s SEALER-E prototype, an electric lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), to simulate nuclear fission temperatures without splitting atoms. ABB will contribute expertise in automation, electrification, and digitalisation to support the project’s technological foundation. Blykalla CEO Jacob Stedman highlighted the cost and time benefits of this non-nuclear approach, enabling iterative testing for safety systems before moving to a full nuclear environment.
The collaboration will also explore solutions for future SEALER LFR plants, including cybersecurity measures essential for SMR deployments in remote areas. SMRs, due to their small size, are more flexible and suited to remote locations but will likely depend on advanced computer systems, making cybersecurity a priority. Stedman noted that Blykalla plans to have on-site staff at its facilities, with fully remote systems still “decades away.”
This partnership supports Sweden’s ambitious nuclear roadmap targeting 10GW of new nuclear capacity by 2045, with SMRs positioned as a flexible and cost-effective alternative to large-scale nuclear plants. Currently, nuclear power contributes approximately 30% of Sweden’s electricity.
Image: Jacob Stedman, Blykalla’s CEO, and Vibeke Gyllenram, Head of Business Development at ABB Process Automation, sign the MoU at Blykalla’s lead laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden. Credit: Blykalla