Blue Energy Raises $380M to Build Nuclear Reactors in Shipyards

Blue Energy raised $380M to build grid-scale nuclear reactors in shipyards, aiming to slash construction costs and timelines. The Silicon Review reports on the Texas project set to deliver 1.5GW of baseload power for AI data centers.

Blue Energy has raised $380 million to build grid-scale nuclear reactors in shipyards, a novel approach designed to slash construction costs and timelines for carbon-free power as AI data centers strain the U.S. electricity grid.

The round was led by VXI Capital with participation from Engine Ventures, At One Ventures, and Tamarack Global. Proceeds will support long-lead equipment procurement and development of the company's first 1.5 gigawatt project in Texas, slated to begin construction in the third quarter of 2026.

Unlike traditional nuclear projects that take a decade or more and cost billions in overruns, Blue Energy plans to prefabricate modular plants in existing shipyards and transport them via waterways to installation sites. The company says this approach can reduce capital costs from $10,000 per kilowatt to $2,000 per kilowatt and shrink build times from 10 years to 2 years.

"The reactor itself could be free, and the industry would still struggle to make the plant cost competitive," said CEO and co-founder Jake Jurewicz, who comes from MIT's nuclear science and engineering department. "We've designed a plant that satisfies all stakeholders cheaper, safer, and mass-producible from existing supply chains." 

Blue Energy's Texas project at the Port of Victoria will deliver power to AI data centers developed by Crusoe. The facility will initially run on natural gas with a planned transition to nuclear power, a phased approach recently approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"We are developing a nuclear power product designed to scale at a time when the world needs it most," Jurewicz said. The company has already attracted interest from three major project financing banks, signaling confidence that its shipyard manufacturing model can finally make nuclear power financeable without heavy reliance on taxpayer subsidies .

As Blue Energy raises $380 million to manufacture nuclear reactors in shipyards, The Silicon Review examines whether prefabricated nuclear power can solve AI's energy dilemma and why investors are betting on a faster, cheaper atomic future.

 About the Author

Sashindra Suresh is an experienced writer specializing in artificial intelligence, software development, and emerging technologies. With a strong ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, engaging insights, she has contributed to a wide range of publications and platforms. Her work focuses on making cutting-edge innovations accessible to both industry professionals and curious readers alike.