Govt plans sops for making small modular N-reactors

Source: The post is based on the article “Govt plans sops for making small modular N-reactors ” published in “Livemint” on 3rd November 2023

Why in the News?

The Government of India is planning to offer incentives along the lines of a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing small modular reactors(SMR).

What are Small Modular Reactors(SMR)?

Source: IAEA

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a class of nuclear reactors that are smaller in size compared to traditional, large-scale nuclear power plants. 

They are designed to be more flexible, scalable, and easily deployable in various settings.

Key Characteristics of SMRs:

1. They can be built in a factory.On the other hand, conventional nuclear reactors are built on site.

2. They have a power capacity of up to 300 MW per unit—which is about a third of the capacity of a traditional nuclear reactor.

Advantages of SMRs:

1.Easy installation: SMRs are smaller in size. This enables their installation in locations unsuitable for larger nuclear power plants.

2.Reduced cost: Prefabricated units of SMRs can be manufactured and then shipped and installed on site. This makes them more affordable to build than large power reactors, which are often custom designed for a particular location.

3.Reduced Environmental Impact: Nuclear energy produced by SMRs can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, thereby supporting efforts to combat climate change.

4.Rapid Deployment and Accessibility: The smaller and modular design of SMRs allows for quicker deployment and installation. This can benefit remote or underserved regions, and countries without established large-scale nuclear infrastructures.

What are the steps the Government of India is taking to promote Small Modular Reactors(SMR)?

Government is planning to offer incentives along the lines of a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing small modular reactors(SMR).

India is having bilateral talks with France, Russia, South Korea and the US for the required technologies and investments for SMRs.

Note: Currently, India’s installed nuclear power capacity stands at 7.48 GW. It is expected to reach 22.28 GW by 2031.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and Technology