Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

Why in news?

• Recently, member of NITI Aayog V K Saraswat suggested the government to focus on setting up small modular reactors (SMRs).
• It was suggested to accelerate nuclear power plant projects, set up under fleet mode production, in order to meet India’s base load requirements at the earliest.
• Small modular reactors will help in meeting requirements in distributed manner.

About Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):

• Small modular reactors are advanced nuclear reactors, with the power capacity of 300 MW(e) per unit.
• This equals to 1/3rd of generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.
• The nuclear plant is likely to be built in a period of 5 years, under fleet mode.
• An important aspect of the advanced nuclear reactor is that, it is factory fabricated.
• It can be operated by any agency. Thus, it would attract larger participation of private sector.

Nuclear Power energy in India:

• Currently, 22 reactors are operational in India, with a total capacity of 6,780 MW.
  • Out of these, 18 reactors are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors while 4 are Light Water Reactors.
• Share of nuclear power in overall electricity generation in India was 3.1% in 2020-21.
• India has planned to enhance the current capacity of 6,780 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031, in line with the net-zero targets.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Small Modular Reactors, sometimes seen in news, is associated with:

(a) Waste to Energy

(b) Nuclear Power

(c) Solar Power

(d) Hydro-power

Answer