Can Small Modular Reactor Nuclear Plants help decarbonization & energy security?
Ashish Kumar
Energy Transition & Decarbonization | P2X l Project Management I Business strategy l Green hydrogen l Green Ammonia |BESS| Fuel cell I O & M I
Considering the climate crisis & Global warming challenges (as per COP 27 global temperatures to well below 2 Deg C above pre-industrial levels) world is moving towards various energy transition and decarbonization solutions.
Fossil fuels remain the greatest source of electricity generation worldwide. In 2022, coal accounted for roughly 35.8 percent of the global power mix, while natural gas followed with a 22 percent share. China, India, and the United States accounted for the largest?share of coal used for electricity generation?in 2021.
Renewable sources are increasingly filling some of the gap left by coal and other fossil fuels. But while they have an important role to play, they have their own issues.
i) . Wind energy is intermittent in output and has local environmental impacts, including the requirement to site the current generation of large wind turbines across vast land and sea areas.
ii). Solar energy is predictable in output but requires significant amounts of land beyond roof-mounted panels, making it less suited to highly-populated areas.
iii). Hydroelectric energy, the most developed renewable energy source, can provide consistent and controllable output but often involves flooding the land.?but having Project execution for 8-10 years along with High capex & ?limited places to build hydropower, and large dams carry several social and environmental concerns.
All this means that countries should also look to include nuclear in their plans to replace fossil fuel electricity generation. Nuclear power does not generate greenhouse gas emissions in its production but through mining and refining uranium, transporting and storing waste, and constructing and decommissioning sites.
A nuclear power generation plant is the only low-carbon source of energy that can replace fossil fuels for 24/7 baseload power which enhances energy security requirements.
Global nuclear power
About 440 nuclear reactors operate?globally, providing approximately 10 percent of the world’s electricity. In the?United States, 93 nuclear reactors generate nearly a fifth of the country’s electricity supply.
The Historical Development of conventional Nuclear to SMR’s Power plant refers to the period during which a particular generation or type of nuclear reactor is operational and actively producing electricity. Each generation of nuclear reactors represents a different stage of technological advancement and safety features
Generation I: ?Nuclear reactors developed during the period between 1950s and 1960s) primarily used natural uranium as fuel. Which don’t have many of the advanced safety features and efficiencies found in later generations.
Generation II: ?Nuclear reactors were developed & being operational in 1970 & having improved over Generation I, pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs), which became the most common types of commercial reactors. Generation II reactors are still in operation today, accounting for the majority of existing nuclear power plants worldwide.
Generation III: Nuclear reactor developed in1990s with enhanced safety, efficiency, and ease of construction. Generation III reactors include advanced (Pressurized-water reactor) PWRs such as the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) and the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR).
Generation IV: Generation IV reactors are still in the research and development phase. They aim to overcome the limitations of previous generations by focusing on advanced designs, safety features, and fuel cycles. These reactors, as mentioned earlier, include concepts such as the Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR), Very High-Temperature Reactor (VHTR), and Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), Small modular reactor (SMRs).
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are newer generation reactors designed to generate large amounts of low-carbon electricity typically up to 300 MW, whose components and systems can be shop fabricated and then transported as modules to the sites for installation having lesser project schedule capex & Opex.
SMR Generating capacity is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. SMRs are under development for all principal reactor lines water-cooled reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, liquid metal, sodium, and gas-cooled reactors with fast neutron spectrum, molten salt reactors, and most recently microreactors.
Large conventional Nuclear Plant -700 + MW(e).
Small Modular Reactor Nuclear Plant -300 MW(e).
Microreactor Nuclear Plant – 10 MW(e).
Nowadays lots of companies are working on?the development / Pilot projects of SMR Nuclear Plant considered as an energy transition & decarbonization solution/mission with key points as below.
领英推荐
Many SMRs, which can be factory-assembled and transported to a location for installation, are envisioned for markets?such as industrial applications or remote areas with limited grid capacity.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have the potential to contribute to decarbonization efforts and enhance energy security in several ways
1. Reduced Carbon Emissions: SMRs are designed to generate electricity through nuclear fission, which does not produce direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By replacing fossil fuel-based power generation, SMRs can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. They can play a role in transitioning to a low-carbon or carbon-neutral energy mix.
2. Energy Security: Nuclear power, including SMRs, can enhance energy security by diversifying the energy mix. Unlike fossil fuels, which are subject to price volatility and geopolitical risks, nuclear energy relies on a domestic and stable fuel supply. This reduces dependence on foreign energy sources and increases the resilience of the energy system. SMRs can be used to provide base load power, ensuring a reliable and continuous electricity supply.
3. Grid Stabilization and Integration of Renewables: SMRs can provide a stable and predictable source of electricity, which can help integrate intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the grid. The ability of SMRs to operate at a constant output can support grid stabilization, reducing the need for backup power generation or energy storage technologies. This synergy between SMRs and renewables can contribute to a more balanced and resilient power system
4. Technological Advances and Safety: SMRs benefit from advancements in nuclear technology, incorporating passive safety features and improved designs. These features enhance safety and reduce the risks associated with nuclear power generation. Additionally, SMRs can benefit from standardized designs and streamlined regulatory processes, making them potentially more cost-effective and quicker to deploy compared to larger reactors.
5. Flexibility and Scalability: SMRs are smaller in size compared to traditional large-scale nuclear reactors. Their modular design allows for flexible deployment, as they can be constructed in factories and transported to various locations. This flexibility enables power generation in remote areas or regions with limited grid infrastructure. SMRs can also be deployed in clusters, providing scalable power generation to meet specific energy demands
SMRs offer several potential benefits, their deployment, and commercialization are still in the early stages. Challenges such as cost competitiveness, public acceptance, waste management, and regulatory frameworks need to be addressed to fully realize their potential contributions to decarbonization and energy security.
Leading SMR designs and their proposed capacities:
Well-established OEMs / manufacturers of the Small modular reactor market are prominent players in this industry. These companies have been in the market for several years & have a diverse product range, cutting-edge technology & continuously enhancing their safety & Performance Major OEMs are NuScale Power, Motex Energy, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and Toshiba.
1. Westinghouse Electric Company: Westinghouse's SMR design, called the eVinci, has a capacity of 15 MW and can be combined with other units to create a power plant with a capacity of up to 150 MW.
2.NuScale Power: NuScale's SMR design has a capacity of 50 MW per module, and up to 12 modules can be combined to create a power plant with a capacity of 600 MW.
3. Toshiba: The MoveluX reactor system is designed for multi-purpose energy sources that include off-grid and micro-grid electricity supply, high-temperature heat source, hydrogen production, and so forth. This reactor produces 10 MW thermal power and generates 3-4 MWe if it is used for electricity production.
4. Holtec International: Holtec's SMR design, called the SMR-160, has a capacity of 160 MW.
5. GE?Hitachi Nuclear Energy: GE Hitachi's SMR design, called the BWRX-300, has a capacity of 300 MW.
7. Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce's SMR design, called the Small Modular Reactor (SMR), has a capacity of 440 MW.
Below is the Global Road map of SMR technology development across the globe
Recent advancements in nuclear technology, a strong push for decarbonization, and a growing realization that multiple energy sources are necessary to achieve aggressive decarbonization goals are creating an opportunity for nuclear energy to partner with Energy transition solutions (P2X solutions with the coupling of Hydrogen, Ammonia, e-fuels, etc). Although both have unique regulatory challenges, both also come with tremendous opportunities to reshape energy production and usage. International collaboration can accelerate the path to commercialization for new nuclear technologies, and lower their costs more quickly.
Disclaimer note: The above view is based on study / personal work experience only.
Last Post Held - GM (Quality Inspection Services ) at NTPC Ltd
11 个月Thanks Ashishji, A relevant piece of summary of developments in the field of filling the gaps in India's power generation . With the introduction of SMRs , all that is needed is a consistent disciplined approach towards manufacturing of quality equipments in prototype units and preplanned sequential assembly procedures and commissioning of the modules to enable smooth operation , identification & traceability of records prepared sincerely during periodic inspections and for the ease of servicing to ensure desired operational life of units without compromising safety and reliability . I am sure with the sufficient quantity of batch production of such modular units , India's manpower is ready already to meet all bench marks prescribed by the Global Industrial Standards.
Head of Department(Projects) at Toshiba Plant Systems & Services Corp
1 年Good thing is GE Hitachi has always said, once its BWRX300 will be available in 2028, its levelised cost will be similar to Gas Turbine ccpp. How fast this will grow in India, depends upon how fast our Govt regulatory bodies gives all kinds of clearance for these Small & micro reactors to be operated by pvt players too, I hope they don't act at snail pace. Govt must keep in mind that the kind of revolution we have seen when they opened the power sector for pvt sector which were earlier dominated by inefficient SEBs, lacking investment with only bright spot was ntpc. So let Govt to open this sector beyond NPCIL, and AEC to act fast in advising the Govt.
at BHEL Ltd.
1 年Nice article covering details about SMR Ashish.
PMP | Project Management | I&C Engineering | Sub Critical, Super Critical Thermal Plants | Combined Cycle Plants | Green H2 | Energy Transition | NTPC
1 年Very well written article, few challenges to overcome for SMR - a job in progress
MBA | B.E Mechanical | Energy Sector | Proposal Engineering | Vendor Engineering | Project Management | GreenHydrogen I Ex-Siemens
1 年Nice Article Ashish ??