India Turns to SMRs for Energy Transition

The Bharat SMR under development by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India in collaboration with Tata Consulting Engineers is a significant step in the country's energy changeover. The project was completed through the re-engineering work of existing PHWRs for standardization into an SMR, which will subsequently have the capacity to roll out quickly for a host of applications. Redesigning PHWRs for Small Modular Reactors The SMR project targets the strong PHWR framework—a technology that is already proven in the Indian nuclear energy scenario. While upgrading the technology framework of PHWR that had been developed more than 40 years back, modern advanced 3D design platforms will be used. Expected to be put in place with these tools are efficiency, safety, and modularity reinforcement of the reactor in line with the stringent standards demanded of SMRs. The aim is to achieve a high degree of standardization under SMRs so that their mass construction and deployment become possible. Because SMRs are modular, that is, made in a modular fashion, they can be constructed in a factory and moved to the place where they are to be finally installed. The idea would meet the flexible and scalable energy requirements of an enlarging India. Ambitious Construction Targets The DAE and Tata Consulting Engineers have targeted an ambitious aim of building 40-50 SMRs in the span of the next seven to eight years. The urgency of this ambitious target could not have been more striking, considering that the country really needs to upscale its energy capacities while at the same time effect a transition to cleaner and more sustainable sources. To achieve this goal, though, will take more than just new innovations in the way of technologies themselves, but also close cooperation between government entities, private sector and industry collaborators, and regulatory bodies in order to guarantee the successful accommodation of these standards in operational safety and security for these reactors. Government Support and Industry Collaboration The SMR project seems to have received a major shot in the arm courtesy of the Indian government, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserting during her Union budget presentation that the government was going to partner with the private industry in the development of Bharat Small Reactors, as has been announced by it as part of the larger plan to promote nuclear energy technology through public-private partnership. From the finance minister, this is support for a commitment by the government to the energy transition and the realization of the important role to be played by SMRs within this process. India's Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL) operates two 540-MWe, two 700-MWe, and sixteen 220-MWe PHWRs. Fourteen additional 700 MWe PHWRs are supposed to be completed by 2031-22, besides the fact that the status of these projects is variously at different levels of implementation. Tata Consulting Engineers is an experienced associate of DAE with a market master-domination among the associate members, holding 85 percent of the market share in nuclear engineering services, hence playing a very critical role in the SMR development project. Having vast and broad experience in power projects across the country, it is well-placed for playing a lead role in the successful realization of the Bharat SMR initiative. Role of SMRs in Energy Transition Small Modular Reactors represent yet another stride in nuclear technology; they are versatile and mobile nodes of power creation. Unlike the standard large reactor systems, SMRs can be assembled in factories with controlled conditions and then transported for their final site of operation. This decreases construction time and costs. With so much potential power, each SMR unit could produce up to 300 MWe, thus becoming a perfect choice for remote or industrial areas too small to accommodate larger reactors. Their flexibility also gives room for applications in the replacement of older thermal power plants with cleaner and more efficient, less-polluting energy of less GHG emission. In this perspective, SMRs are considered to play the role of being important for the energy transition of the country, particularly in combating climate change. SMRs offer an avenue to a promising solution for the country in terms of diversifying its energy portfolio and not depending on fossil fuels while following a route of sustainability through technological innovation. Conclusion The development of the Bharat Small Modular Reactor is a critical step in India's journey towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future. This project, backed by the government and skilfully executed by Tata Consulting Engineers, may well achieve its set targets. At a time when the world does everything within its power to solve the challenges revolving around climate change, the investment in SMR technology by India shows a commitment to innovation and sustainability that could potentially offer a model for other nations. Source: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Tata Consulting Engineers