Energy Transition
BLYKALLA
Clean, safe, and scalable baseload energy
Founded:
2013
Located
Stockholm, Sweden
We invested
Series A
EARTH-FIRST VISION
Blykalla, meaning "Lead-cooled" in Swedish, specializes in advanced small modular reactors (SMRs). With over 25 years of research behind their design, Blykalla is now bringing this innovative technology to market to support a fully fossil-free future by providing reliable baseload energy.
Their flagship product, the Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor (SEALER), is a state-of-the-art SMR that uses liquid lead cooling. While lead-cooled reactors have been used in submarines for over 60 years, Blykalla’s breakthrough innovations make commercializing this technology viable for the first time. Partnering with global leaders, Blykalla aims to deliver Sweden’s next nuclear reactor within the decade.
THE PROBLEM
Energy-intensive industries, such as steel, cement, and chemical manufacturing, are significant contributors to global carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 25% of total CO₂ emissions worldwide. Decarbonizing these sectors is particularly challenging due to their reliance on high-temperature processes and the difficulty in electrifying certain operations.
Additionally, traditional nuclear power plants are often unsuitable for providing the localized, flexible energy solutions required by these industries. This creates a pressing need for innovative technologies that can deliver clean, reliable, and adaptable energy to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Blykalla works toward a future with 100% clean energy and aims to reach criticality by 2029.
SOLUTIONS
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer clean, reliable energy with designs suitable for standardized, serial production, ensuring consistent quality and efficiency. Beyond electricity generation, they address hard-to-abate sectors by providing industrial process heat, enabling hydrogen production, and facilitating water desalination, thereby aiding in decarbonizing the industrial value chain.
Blykalla’s Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor (SEALER) is a compact, passively safe SMR utilizing liquid lead coolant. A patented aluminum-alloyed steel ensures corrosion resistance, overcoming traditional challenges associated with lead coolants. Lead’s high boiling point (1700°C) allows for low-pressure operation and effective radiation shielding. SEALER’s design eliminates the need for fuel replacement during operation, reducing fuel management costs. In case of a core disruptive accident, volatile fission products are contained within the lead coolant, ensuring safety without necessitating evacuation.
THEIR DNAs
Blykalla’s founders bring unique expertise that positions them to revolutionize nuclear energy. Professor Janne Wallenius, a reactor physicist at KTH, has led research on lead-cooled reactor systems since 1996, combining decades of experience in nuclear design and safety. Dr. Peter Szakalos, an expert in high-temperature corrosion science, has developed groundbreaking steels with unparalleled corrosion resistance, addressing critical challenges in advanced nuclear reactors. Jacob Stedman, CEO, is a serial entrepreneur with a background in scaling startups and consulting on electricity production and climate change. Together, they merge scientific innovation with strategic leadership to advance Blykalla’s mission of sustainable energy.