Assessing Rotterdam Port’s potential role in the future SMR supply chain

A new exploratory study conducted jointly by Tractebel and Technopolis Group shows that the port could become part of the future Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) supply chain – with opportunities extending well beyond the adoption of nuclear technology itself.

The global market for SMRs is still at an early stage. Nearly one hundred different concepts are under development, while only a limited number are currently operational, under construction or at an advanced stage of regulatory approval. As technologies and supply chains continue to take shape, this is a timely opportunity to explore the role the port of Rotterdam could play in this emerging market.

Commissioned by SmartPort, Deltalinqs, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Province of South Holland, the study was carried out jointly by Tractebel and Technopolis Group. Together, they assessed the potential of the port of Rotterdam and its industrial ecosystem within the future SMR supply chain.

A strong industrial and logistics foundation

One of the study’s key findings is that the port of Rotterdam already has a strong foundation on which to build. The port combines a large industrial ecosystem with extensive logistics capabilities, maritime expertise and strong connections to the European hinterland.

The study team identified 92 companies in and around the port that could potentially contribute to the SMR supply chain. Their capabilities range from transport, logistics and heavy haulage to mechanical and electrical systems, industrial services, specialised components and integrated modules.

The port therefore does not need to manufacture complete nuclear reactors to become relevant to this emerging market. The study indicates that the greatest opportunities lie in non-nuclear components and services, areas in which much of the required expertise and infrastructure is already present across the port’s ecosystem.

From logistics hub to strategic nuclear port

The port of Rotterdam’s eventual role will depend on its level of ambition and on how the SMR market develops. The joint study by Tractebel and Technopolis Group identifies four potential strategic roles, ranging from serving as a logistics and transit hub for SMR components to developing an industrial ecosystem for the construction and integration of modules and components.

Over the longer term, broader roles could emerge, including becoming a strategic European port for nuclear-powered vessels and other maritime applications, or a location for nuclear-related industrial activities.
Rotterdam’s established maritime and offshore ecosystem could provide a particularly promising basis for future offshore and maritime SMR applications. Given the current level of technological maturity and the regulatory challenges involved, however, these opportunities are expected to develop over a longer timeframe.

Positioning Rotterdam today for tomorrow’s market

Commercial deployment of SMRs in the Netherlands is not expected in the immediate future. Yet the study stresses that this is no reason to wait. Joining a new international supply chain requires capabilities, partnerships and expertise to be developed before the market reaches maturity.

The report recommends defining Rotterdam’s desired strategic role, establishing a public-private collaboration platform, and developing a shared proposition and action plan. Potential next steps include connecting Rotterdam-based companies with SMR developers and suppliers, building a qualified workforce, and creating the right regulatory conditions.

The question is therefore not only whether SMRs will become part of the future energy system, but also how the port of Rotterdam wants to position itself as this new supply chain develops.
Discover the opportunities, potential roles and recommended next steps in the full report, Preliminary Study on the SMR Supply Chain Potential for the Port of Rotterdam, available here.