- Historic Partnership: Last Energy and the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE) have signed the first-ever agreement between ENSEC COE and a nuclear energy company, focusing on microreactor applications for NATO military bases and installations.
- Joint Research and Advisory Role: The partnership involves joint research on microreactor applications, with Last Energy serving as an industry advisor to ENSEC COE and exploring opportunities to deploy microreactors on NATO bases.
- Innovative Nuclear Technology: Last Energy’s SMR technology, the PWR-20, offers a modular, efficient, and reliable nuclear energy solution, aimed at enhancing energy security for NATO installations and reflecting NATO’s strategic shift towards prioritizing energy security.
Last Energy has established a groundbreaking partnership with the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE), marking the first collaboration between ENSEC COE and a nuclear energy company. This agreement, signed by Last Energy CEO Bret Kugelmass and ENSEC COE Director Colonel Darius Uzkuraitis, aims to explore and develop microreactor applications for NATO military bases and installations. The scope of this joint research is still being refined, but Last Energy will serve as an industry advisor to ENSEC COE on nuclear energy projects and will also investigate opportunities to deploy microreactors on NATO bases.
Bret Kugelmass emphasized the unparalleled reliability and abundance of nuclear energy, advocating for its adoption by NATO militaries to ensure energy security on bases. He highlighted the necessity of miniaturizing, modularizing, and productizing nuclear development to harness its full potential. Kugelmass stated, “Nuclear energy is unequivocally the most reliable, abundant form of power mankind has ever discovered, and it must become the default solution for NATO militaries as they navigate a new era of great power competition.”
Last Energy, a spin-off of the Energy Impact Center, focuses on accelerating the clean energy transition through innovation. Their SMR technology, the PWR-20, is based on a pressurized water reactor with a capacity of 20 MWe or 60 MWt. These reactors are designed to be assembled from modular components off-site and can be completed within 24 months of a final investment decision, with an expected operational lifespan of 42 years.
The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, located in Vilnius, Lithuania, is one of 28 NATO-accredited expert bodies that advise member militaries on strategy and technologies in specific fields. Founded in 2012, the centre collaborates with partners in industry, academia, and government to develop solutions that ensure energy resilience and the safety of critical energy infrastructure for NATO forces.
Under the terms of the partnership, Last Energy and ENSEC COE will work on joint projects focused on nuclear energy applications for NATO military installations and operations. This partnership reflects NATO’s strategic shift towards prioritizing energy security. Micro-nuclear plants offer significant advantages, including reduced construction costs and timelines, minimal water requirements, and flexible siting options. These benefits enable direct power connections and help circumvent the traditional bandwidth restraints and price volatility of the grid.
In summary, the partnership between Last Energy and ENSEC COE represents a significant step towards enhancing energy security for NATO military bases through innovative nuclear technology.