SMALL NUCLEAR REACTORS – SCI & TECH

News: India pursues small reactors in civil nuclear energy

 

What's in the news?

       A day after the G20 summit's Delhi Declaration, which highlighted the importance of advancing nuclear technology and the design and development of small modular reactors (SMRS), atomic energy officials revealed the country's dedicated efforts in "these new types of reactors".

 

Significance of Nuclear power:

       Nuclear power plants (NPPs) generate 10% of the world’s electricity.

       Nuclear power helps the world to avoid 180 billion cubic metres of natural gas demand and 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

       NPPs are efficient users of land and their grid integration costs are lower than those associated with variable renewable energy (VRE) sources because NPPs generate power 24x7 in all kinds of weather.

       Nuclear power also provides valuable co-benefits like high-skill jobs in technology, manufacturing, and operations.

 

Issues in Nuclear Power:

       Time and cost overruns.

       Not a zero- carbon energy - There is no such thing as a zero or close-to-zero emission nuclear power plant. Even existing plants emit due to the continuous mining and refining of uranium needed for the plant.

       Problem of Radioactive wastes - consumed fuel rods from nuclear plants are radioactive waste. Most fuel rods are stored at the same site as the reactor that consumed them

       Safety issues - Possible occurrence of Meltdowns. A meltdown is an accident in which severe overheating of the nuclear reactor results in the melting of the reactor’s core. If a meltdown occurred, a nuclear power plant could release radiation into the environment. After incidents such as Chernobyl and the Fukushima disaster, countries such as Germany began to undergo a nuclear phase out, shutting down their nuclear energy units.

       Displacement - To build nuclear reactors, it requires huge amounts of land. This would displace local communities who may not want to leave. Further, it is not easy to rehabilitate them and provide them with appropriate compensation

 

Role of Small Modular Reactors:

In this above context, Small Modular Reactors can be the best replacement for Conventional Nuclear Power Plants in the following aspects.

1. Enhanced safety:

       SMRs offer lower core damage frequency and source term compared to conventional NPPs, enhancing safety.

2. No displacement issues:

       They can be installed at brownfield sites, simplifying regulatory approvals and reducing land requirements.

3. No time and cost overruns:

       SMRs are manufactured in factories, minimizing time and cost overruns, and their lower spent nuclear fuel storage reduces environmental impact.

       The term "modular" signifies their modular construction approach, allowing for factory assembly and simplified on-site installation.

4. Remote Communities:

       SMRs can provide clean and reliable energy to remote communities, replacing diesel generators and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

5. Industrial Complexes:

       They can serve as a dependable energy source for energy-intensive industries such as mining, desalination, and manufacturing.

6. Urban Areas:

       SMRs can supplement urban energy grids, enhancing reliability while minimizing emissions.

7. Decarbonization:

       Their 24/7 power generation capability can complement renewable energy sources, aiding in the decarbonization of power generation.

 

WAY FORWARD:

       The Atomic Energy Act will need to be amended to allow the private sector to set up SMRs. To ensure safety, security, and safeguards, control of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste must continue to lie with the Government of India.

       The government will also have to enact a law to create an independent, empowered regulatory board with the expertise and capacity to oversee every stage of the nuclear power generation cycle, including design approval, site selection, construction, operations, certification of operators, and waste reprocessing.

       The security around SMRs must remain under government control, while the Nuclear Power Corporation can operate privately-owned SMRs during the hand-holding process.

       The India-US ‘123 agreement’ allows India to develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against supply disruptions. It also permits India to set up a facility to reprocess spent fuel from SMRs under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). So, the Indian government can negotiate with foreign suppliers to reprocess nuclear waste from all SMRs in a state-controlled facility under IAEA safeguards. The reprocessed material may also be suitable for use in other NPPs in India that use imported uranium.

       Finally, the Department of Atomic Energy must improve the public perception of nuclear power in India by better disseminating comprehensive environmental and public health data of the civilian reactors, which are operating under international safeguards, in India.