As electricity demand keeps rising driven by things like widespread electrification and massive data centers energy providers and tech companies are reconsidering nuclear power as a reliable option. However, recent nuclear projects in the U.S. have faced delays and cost overruns, making many hesitant to try the same approach again.

Jake Jurewicz, co-founder and CEO of Blue Energy, believes the solution lies in looking back at how things were once done.

Instead of building reactors entirely on-site, Blue Energy plans to construct them in shipyards. These facilities are already equipped to handle large steel structures, and once completed, the reactors can be transported to their final location.

Interestingly, the most widely used nuclear technology today light water reactors was originally developed for submarines. This means building them in shipyards isn’t a new idea, but rather a return to earlier practices.

To get started, Blue Energy has raised $380 million from investors. The funding will support its first project: a 1.5-gigawatt power plant in Texas, with construction expected to begin later this year.

Unlike many companies in the nuclear space, Blue Energy isn’t creating a new type of reactor. Instead, it’s focusing on improving how reactors are built. Jurewicz took inspiration from methods used in constructing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, where much of the work is done off-site to save time.

By shifting most of the construction to shipyards, the company hopes to create a more controlled and efficient process. This setup could also allow for more automation and reduce the need for labor-intensive tasks like manual welding.

Once completed, the reactor components will be transported by barge to their installation sites. While this approach works best for locations near water, rivers and coastlines still provide access to many regions across the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia where much of the growing energy demand is concentrated.

The company says its strategy has already caught the attention of major investors and financial institutions, suggesting confidence in its approach.

At its core, Blue Energy is tackling one of the biggest challenges in nuclear power today: not the technology itself, but the high costs and unpredictable timelines of construction. By simplifying and streamlining the building process, the company aims to make nuclear energy more practical and affordable.