India’s nuclear capacity addition of 22,800 mw by 2031-32 gets a boost after Centre approves ASHWINI, JV between NPCIL & NTPC

SANJAY JOG

India’s nuclear capacity addition especially in meeting its Clean Energy Commitments to achieve net zero emission target by 2070 received a major boost following the Centre’s approval for the Anushakti Vidyut Nigam Ltd (ASHWINI), a joint venture of Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCIL) and NTPC. Initially, ASHWINI will develop two Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactor (PHWR) projects, Chutka Madhya Pradesh Atomic Power Project 2x700 MW and Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project 4x700 MW, which were identified as a part of fleet mode nuclear projects. India has set ambitious targets to achieve 22,800 MW of nuclear power capacity by 2031-32, a substantial increase from the current 8,180 MW.

The proposed capacity addition also aims to increase the share of nuclear energy in total electricity generation capacity in India’s total power generation capacity. Currently, it a paltry 3.1% among the lowest in countries that do use nuclear energy.

NPCIL is presently operating 24 commercial nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 8180 MW. The reactor fleet comprises two Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), 20 Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) including one 100 MW PHWR at Rajasthan which is owned by DAE, Government of India and two VVER reactors of 1000 MW capacity each. VVER is an acronym for “Voda Voda Energo Reactor” meaning water-cooled, water moderated energy reactor.

In addition to KAPP-3, twin unit KAPP-4 is at advanced stage of commissioning.RAPP-7&8 is India’s second pair of indigenously designed Nuclear Power Plant of 700 MW are progressing well.Another two reactors of indigenous 700 MWe PHWR technology at Gorakhpur, Haryana (GHAVP-1&2) are under different stages of construction.

Ten indigenous 700 MW PHWRs in Fleet Mode are being set up at Kaiga in Karnataka (Kaiga-5&6), Gorakhpur in Haryana (GHAVP-3&4), Chutka in Madhya Pradesh (Chutka-1&2) and Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan (Mahi Banswara-1 to 4). Four reactors of Light Water Reactor(LWR) technology viz.KKNPP-3&4 and KKNPP-5&6, each of 1000 MWe capacity are also under construction at Kudankulam with Russian cooperation.

Moreover, according to the NPCIL, the Government of India had accorded ‘in-principle’ approval for five sites namely Jaitapur in Maharashtra, Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh, Chhaya Mithivirdi in Gujarat, Haripur in West Bengal and Bhimpur in Madhya Pradesh for taking up land acquisition and pre-project activities at these sites for setting up NPPs with international co-operation.

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is proposed to be set up in technical collaboration with Electricite de France (EDF), France. (Earlier AREVA, France was responsible for the implementation of the Jaitapur project from the French side, which has since been delegated by Government of France to EDF). The required land for the project and township has been acquired and is in possession of NPCIL. Pre-project activities such as geo-technical investigation, boundary wall construction, construction power supply, site office cum QA complex building, Fire Industrial Safety and Health (FISH) building, meteorological tower, laboratory buildings and approach road, rain water harvesting pond etc. have been completed.

Further, the Centre accorded ‘in-principle’ approval to the site in October 2009 to establish 6x1208 MWe LWR reactors at Kovvada Site of Andhra Pradesh, with AP1000 technology fromM/s. Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC), USA.A ‘Principal Division of Responsibilities (DOR) document’ based on an EPC model (Engineering and Procurement responsibility with WEC and Construction responsibility with NPCIL) agreed between NPCIL and WEC. The land acquisition activities for the project are in progress.

At Haripur Site in West Bengal and Chhaya Mithivirdi, Gujarat the land acquisition is contingent upon the initiative of the state government.

Additionally,? NPCIL and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have signed MoU to jointly pursue business opportunities in the area of Nuclear Power Plants based on Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) Technology. Under the MoU, BHEL & NPCIL will jointly explore opportunities for development of Nuclear Power Projects with a view to reduce Project gestation time.

NPCIL in line with ‘National Hydrogen Mission’ has finalised its hydrogen policy and it is setting up small Hydrogen Generation Plants and associated systems with 10 Nm3 per hour capacity at Rawatbhata and Tarapur sites to gain experience in Hydrogen production and related aspects.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

The Centre is quite keen for the development of small modular reactors with the private sector participation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget for 2024-25 mentioned that nuclear energy is expected to form a very significant part of the energy mix for Viksit Bharat. The government will partner with the private sector for setting up Bharat Small Reactors, research & development of Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and research & development of newer technologies for nuclear energy.

State run companies including Indian Oil, NTPC and ONGC are quite bullish on the development of SMRs. Indian Oil is also exploring the possibility of implementation of large and small modular nuclear projects through the Joint Venture route. It already has a JV with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for nuclear power in the country and is also exploring collaboration in SMR. ONGC is also in talks for indigenous SMRs as a source of clean energy.

As per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors with a power generation capacity ranging from less than 30 MWe to 300+ MWe. At present, nearly 80 SMR designs are under development and licensing stages, and a few of them are at deployment and operational stages globally.

According to NITI Aayog report released in May 2023, SMRs can play an important role in mitigation efforts and strengthening the nuclear industry. They can accelerate energy transition by facilitating greater penetration of nuclear energy as they possess attributes such as low inventory of nuclear material per reactor, speedy fabrication through standardization, fast realization using modularization techniques, feasibility of deployment at difficult sites and phased capital expenditure by adding successive batches of SMR modules. As many SMR designs are under various stages of research, development and licensing in different countries, global regulatory harmonization, developing manufacturing ecosystem and bringing in public as well as private capital would be the key for growth of SMR industry.

‘’Successful deployment of SMR technology must leverage private sector investment. A robust and technology-neutral policy framework is required for securing private investment including factors currently having growing influence on investment flows such as taxonomies and environmental, social and governance factors,’’ reads the report.

NITI Aayog has suggested that the private sector participation in SMR deployment can be encouraged through key incentives such as political support, conducive SMR regulatory framework led by national regulators, a mature nuclear supply chain, a successful ‘Proof of Concept/demonstration can drive investor confidence/ business case, unambiguous Civil Nuclear Liability Framework and supporting legal structure, an effective energy policy framework and incentives for low-carbon technologies.

Further, NITI Aayog emphasised the need to provide the seed capital required for innovation, funding for demonstration and commercialization and financing for scaling-up operations to enable the development and growth of such initiatives.