Steady Energy pours first concrete for Helsinki SMR pilot plant

Concrete poured for pilot on 12 Feb, marking construction start – The first concrete was placed in the Salmisaari B turbine hall on 12 February, in a ceremony attended by Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala, initiating the build of a full‑scale, non‑nuclear pilot for the LDR‑50 reactor [1].

Non‑nuclear pilot will supply ~6 MW heat to Helen’s district network – Instead of nuclear fuel, the pilot uses an electric heating element to generate heat, delivering about 6 MW to energy firm Helen’s district‑heating system; the project costs EUR 15‑20 million, funded by capital already raised by Steady Energy [1].

CEO Tommi Nyman calls concrete pour a major milestone – Steady Energy’s chief executive said the pour “is a major milestone for all the professionals involved… we are one step closer to the first Finnish small nuclear heating facility” (see Who Said What) [1].

Minister Multala ties pilot to Finland’s clean‑energy superpower ambition – The minister stated the project “advances Finland’s strategic objective of becoming a clean‑energy superpower,” emphasizing affordable, stable production and world‑leading technology (see Who Said What) [1].

Helen leases the decommissioned hall until 2028; reactor stays out of sight – Steady Energy and Helen signed a lease for the Salmisaari B building through 2028, and the reactor module will fit entirely inside the turbine hall, remaining invisible from the cityscape [1].

LDR‑50 SMR offers 50 MW thermal output, container size, and lower pressure design – Developed at VTT since 2020, the LDR‑50 operates around 150 °C and below 10 bar, simplifying safety solutions; its size matches a shipping container and future plants will be underground, with plans for further projects in Finland, Poland, Sweden, South Korea, and a Germany MoU with Fermi Energia [1].