Bluecore Energy Secures $10 Million to Develop Portable Nuclear Power on Barges
Maritime startup Bluecore Energy has raised $10 million in pre-seed funding to develop small modular nuclear reactors mounted on floating barges. The company aims to provide mobile, clean electricity to ports and data centers by leveraging established water-cooled reactor technology.
Bluecore Energy, a maritime startup founded by former Uber Freight executive Kofi Asante, announced on Tuesday that it has successfully raised $10 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment, led by Slauson & Co., will support the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) designed to operate on floating barges, providing a mobile solution for clean energy generation. According to TechCrunch, the round also included participation from Harlem Capital, Precursor Ventures, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, and HartBeat Ventures.
The proposed technology utilizes a closed-loop, water-cooled system where reactors heat water to produce steam, which then drives a turbine to generate electricity. According to Asante, these barges are designed to be transported by ship to various locations, potentially reducing the emissions associated with energy infrastructure deployment. The company estimates that a single barge could power approximately 15,000 homes or meet the significant energy demands of a major port facility by connecting to the grid via subsea cables.
From a technical standpoint, the startup intends to leverage existing nuclear technology that has been in operation for over seven decades. The company has already secured a port terminal, a barge, and a test reactor pressure vessel to begin validating its design. Safety remains a primary focus, with the company currently working alongside regulatory agencies to implement multiple layers of protection, including steel pressure vessels, concrete shielding, and steel lining. As noted by TechCrunch, the system is designed to require refueling only once every few years.
The emergence of this technology comes as the energy sector faces mounting pressure to support the rapid expansion of AI data centers. By providing a localized, independent source of electricity, Bluecore aims to alleviate the strain that high-compute facilities often place on local power grids and water resources. As the company moves toward product deployment, investors and industry observers will likely monitor the startup’s progress through the complex regulatory landscape governing nuclear energy and maritime operations.