Blue Capsule Technology
Blue Capsule Technology is a French nuclear SMR developer building a sodium-cooled high-temperature reactor that delivers industrial heat, steam, and electricity to energy-intensive industries including cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, and soda ash producers. The company is pre-revenue, with first-of-a-kind deployment targeted for circa 2027-2028.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersAix-en-provence, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blue Capsule Technology does
Blue Capsule Technology is a French private nuclear technology company founded in October 2022 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, with a second office at Paris-Saclay. The company develops a sodium-cooled High-Temperature Reactor (HTR), a small modular reactor (SMR) using low-enriched (<5%) TRISO fuel with a naturally circulating sodium loop at atmospheric pressure. The reactor delivers a tri-vector energy output — industrial heat up to 700°C, high-temperature steam up to 650°C, and up to 50 MWe of electricity from a single compact underground installation, water-free cooling via ambient air. Blue Capsule targets energy-intensive industrial customers in cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, soda ash, and biofuel production, where electrification of high-temperature process heat is not economically viable.
The company's product portfolio comprises the Blue Capsule HTR itself, the ELISE full-scale sodium test rig under construction in Peyrolles-en-Provence (Feb 2026), the TRISO fuel system developed in cooperation with Framatome, and a fuel handling machine designed with Veolia Nuclear Solutions. To date Blue Capsule has raised approximately €12 million in total (€10 million France 2030 grant in November 2023 plus €2 million private seed in June 2024), with a follow-on undisclosed round in February 2026, and progressed to Phase 2 of technical dialogue with France's nuclear safety authority ASNR in May 2025. The team is led by co-founders Edouard Hourcade (President), Alexey Lokhov (Director of Innovation), and Alexis Burdeau (CFO), with senior hires including Safety & Licensing Director Aurélie Lorin (ex-ASN, ex-OECD NEA) and Reactor Architect Domnin Erard (ex-Technicatome).
The business model is direct enterprise sales of long-term heat, steam, and electricity supply contracts to industrial off-takers, targeting approximately €50/MWh industrial heat and €62/MWh steam LCOE — pricing positioned to undercut natural gas once EU ETS carbon costs are included. First-of-a-kind reactor deployment is scheduled for the early next decade (circa 2027-2028). The company has assembled a European supply chain coalition including Framatome, Veolia Nuclear Solutions, Laborelec (Engie), CEA, Egis, Mersen, and others. Blue Capsule is pre-revenue with no commercial reactor deployed.
Blue Capsule Technology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Capsule Technology
- Legal name
- Blue Capsule SAS
- Website
- https://bluecapsule-technology.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blue Capsule Technology is a French nuclear SMR developer building a sodium-cooled high-temperature reactor that delivers industrial heat, steam, and electricity to energy-intensive industries including cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, and soda ash producers. The company is pre-revenue, with first-of-a-kind deployment targeted for circa 2027-2028.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Capsule Technology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Modular Reactors (High-Temperature Nuclear Reactors for Industrial Process Heat)
- NAICS
- Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (22133)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gen IV / Advanced Reactor Systems (SFR, LFR, GFR, MSR, HTGR, Microreactors) (EUAKADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Process CHP (Refineries, Chemicals, Pulp & Paper, Metals) (EUACAKAI)
Keywords
Where Blue Capsule Technology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aix-en-provence
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Blue Capsule Technology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Heat and Steam Supply: Blue Capsule plans to generate revenue through long-term contracts to supply industrial-grade heat, steam, and electricity to energy-intensive manufacturing facilities. The company targets 0 EUR/MWh cost target for industrial heat, positioning nuclear energy as cheaper than fossil alternatives when EU ETS carbon costs are factored in.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Blue Capsule Technology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Capsule Technology develops a sodium-cooled High-Temperature small modular reactor (SMR) using TRISO fuel and natural circulation at atmospheric pressure, delivering tri-vector energy output (industrial hot air at 650–700°C, high-temperature steam at 525–650°C, and up to 50 MWe electricity) to energy-intensive industrial sites. The company supplies this through long-term on-site heat, steam and electricity supply contracts designed to displace fossil-fuel use in cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, soda ash, chemical and biofuel production.
Product overview
Blue Capsule Technology offers a unified high-temperature small modular reactor (HTR) system as its core product. The system integrates four main components: the Blue Capsule HTR reactor itself (a sodium-cooled SMR delivering heat, steam, and electricity), the ELISE test rig (full-scale sodium testing facility), the TRISO fuel system (with Framatome cooperation for fuel qualification and manufacturing), and the fuel handling machine (Veolia Nuclear Solutions partnership). This integrated approach combines proven HTR technology with a European supply chain to deliver tri-vector energy (700°C heat, 650°C steam, 50 MWe) specifically designed for energy-intensive industrial applications including cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, and soda ash production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blue Capsule High-Temperature Reactor (HTR) Sodium-cooled small modular reactor (SMR) delivering tri-vector energy output — industrial hot air up to 700°C, high-temperature steam up to 650°C, and up to 50 MWe of electricity. Designed for on-site co-location with energy-intensive industries (cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, soda ash, chemicals, biofuels) where electrification of process heat is not feasible.
- ELISE High-Temperature Sodium Test Rig Full-sized sodium test rig for high-temperature testing up to 750°C, providing proprietary data on thermo-hydraulics and natural circulation of liquid sodium to validate the Blue Capsule HTR design over several years.
- TRISO Fuel System Low-enriched (<5%) TRISO fuel system for Blue Capsule reactors, consisting of uranium microspheres embedded in a graphite matrix. Qualified and manufactured in cooperation with Framatome; capable of withstanding operating temperatures of 800–1000°C and remaining stable up to ~1800°C for enhanced passive safety.
- Fuel Handling Machine Fuel handling machine designed in partnership with Veolia Nuclear Solutions, enabling fast and continuous refuelling of the high-temperature reactor as a core element of the European HTR supply chain.
Quantifiable outcome
- Industrial heat cost target of ~€50/MWh, competitive against natural gas by 2035 when EU ETS carbon costs (31-47 €/MWh) are included
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Blue Capsule Technology
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Blue Capsule Technology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Blue Capsule Technology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.
- CSTI GroupecoreCSTI Groupe is collaborating on the ELISE test rig construction in Peyrolles-en-Provence, providing both technical expertise and fresh investment alongside Robatel and Helionix. CSTI Groupe is a co-investor in the ELISE project and key industrial partner.
- FramatomecoreFramatome and Blue Capsule announced cooperation on TRISO fuel qualification and manufacturing of fuel elements for the high-temperature reactor. Framatome announced new industrialization and development capabilities for TRISO fuel at its Romans-sur-Isère site in France. This is a critical partnership for the European supply chain of fuel for HTRs.
- Veolia Nuclear SolutionscoreVeolia Nuclear Solutions leads the design of Blue Capsule's fuel handling machine - a system vital for fast, continuous refueling of the high-temperature reactor. This partnership was announced at the World Nuclear Exhibition and represents a key element of the European supply chain strategy.
- Laborelec (Engie)strategicLaborelec, Engie's nuclear R&D and operational support entity, is conducting a comprehensive testing and analysis program on essential reactor components. This includes demonstrating maintenance of material integrity under mechanical, thermal, seismic, and chemical constraints (including sodium coolant interaction), and establishing technical characteristics of Blue Capsule's moderator blocks and structural elements.
- JimmysupportingJimmy, a company developing compact heat generators (20-60 MWth) for chemicals, food and beverage, and pulp and paper industries, participated alongside Blue Capsule in French-Polish Industry Days, exploring HTR technology cooperation and shared market opportunities.
- CEAcoreCEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique) is a founding institutional partner and investor in Blue Capsule. The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission provides technical expertise and is recognized as a pillar of France's nuclear industry ecosystem.
- EgisstrategicEgis is a partner in Blue Capsule's European supply chain development, contributing engineering and consulting expertise for the HTR project development.
- MersensupportingMersen is listed as a strategic subcontractor for Blue Capsule, providing specialized components and materials for nuclear applications.
- DigIntelsupportingDigIntel is identified as a partner in Blue Capsule's ecosystem, contributing to the industrial development of the HTR project.
- BJSsupportingBJS is listed as a partner in Blue Capsule's development, participating in the broader European supply chain network for the HTR project.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Blue Capsule Technology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC): USNC develops High-Temperature Micro-Reactors using TRISO fuel and is the most direct peer to Blue Capsule — both target industrial process heat with HTR/TRISO technology. USNC's MMR is being deployed at Canadian and US industrial sites, making it a leading reference competitor for industrial heat decarbonization.
- X-energy: X-energy develops the Xe-100, a 200 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor using TRISO fuel — directly comparable to Blue Capsule's TRISO HTR design. X-energy has Dow and other industrial offtake agreements targeting the same high-temperature industrial heat market.
- TerraPower: TerraPower's Natrium reactor is sodium-cooled, making it a direct technical peer to Blue Capsule's sodium loop. Both target advanced reactor applications with molten/sodium coolant and have Bill Gates-era technology pedigrees for industrial decarbonization.
- Nuward (EDF): Nuward is EDF's SMR project — a French state-backed direct competitor pursuing regulatory licensing with ASN/ASNR. Targets similar industrial and grid applications and represents the most direct domestic competitive threat within the French ecosystem.
- Newcleo: Newcleo is a European advanced reactor developer focused on lead-cooled fast reactors (LFR), with headquarters in France and Italy. Comparable as a privately funded European Gen IV reactor startup pursuing industrial and grid decarbonization.
- Rolls-Royce SMR: Rolls-Royce SMR is a UK-based pressurized water SMR targeting industrial and grid customers across Europe. Comparable as a competing SMR design with industrial heat/power ambitions and a much larger industrial partner base.
- Kairos Power: Kairos Power is developing fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors with TRISO fuel — directly comparable thermal-spectrum advanced reactor technology targeting industrial heat applications, with active US NRC engagement.
- Holtec International: Holtec is developing the SMR-160, a pressurized water SMR targeting industrial heat and power applications. Comparable as a competing SMR vendor pursuing industrial customers with established nuclear manufacturing capabilities.
Emerging players
- Copenhagen Atomics: Copenhagen Atomics develops thorium-based molten salt reactors for industrial process heat applications. Comparable as a European advanced reactor startup targeting industrial decarbonization with novel coolant technology.
- Steady Energy: Steady Energy is a Finnish startup developing a small modular reactor specifically for district and industrial heating — closely comparable to Blue Capsule's industrial heat positioning, though at lower temperatures and focused on Nordic municipal customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blue Capsule Technology social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Capsule Technology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Capsule Technology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Blue Capsule Technology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Capsule Technology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blue Capsule Technology
What does Blue Capsule Technology do?
Blue Capsule Technology develops a sodium-cooled High-Temperature small modular reactor (SMR) using TRISO fuel and natural circulation at atmospheric pressure, delivering tri-vector energy output (industrial hot air at 650–700°C, high-temperature steam at 525–650°C, and up to 50 MWe electricity) to energy-intensive industrial sites. The company supplies this through long-term on-site heat, steam and electricity supply contracts designed to displace fossil-fuel use in cement, alumina, steel, hydrogen, soda ash, chemical and biofuel production.
Is Blue Capsule Technology a public or private company?
Blue Capsule Technology is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Blue Capsule Technology founded?
Blue Capsule Technology was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blue Capsule Technology based?
Blue Capsule Technology is headquartered in Aix-en-provence, France, in the Europe region.
How does Blue Capsule Technology make money?
One revenue line is on record: industrial Heat and Steam Supply.
Who are Blue Capsule Technology's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), X-energy, TerraPower, Nuward (EDF), Newcleo, Rolls-Royce SMR, Kairos Power and Holtec International. Emerging players are Copenhagen Atomics and Steady Energy.
Does Blue Capsule Technology have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Capsule Technology.
What industry is Blue Capsule Technology in?
Blue Capsule Technology's product category is Small Modular Reactors (High-Temperature Nuclear Reactors for Industrial Process Heat). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAKADAC, Gen IV / Advanced Reactor Systems (SFR, LFR, GFR, MSR, HTGR, Microreactors), with a secondary code of EUACAKAI, Industrial Process CHP (Refineries, Chemicals, Pulp & Paper, Metals). Its NAICS code is 22133 and its SIC code is 4991.