Armed with ₹ 20,000 million rupees and a mission, the nuclear establishment of India seems to take advantage of small and small modular reactors. Being what the Government is to tell the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the country could reach five SMR by 2033 and enruta the national objective of achieving7.
While there is no global definition of an SMR, it is generally accepted that anything below 300 MW is ‘small’; There are no lower limitation kW scale micro reactors. However, India will develop SMR in a variety of capacities: 220 MW Bharat small reactors (BSR); 50 MW Bharat Small modular reactors (BSMR); 5 MWT (thermal-ABOG of 2 MW of microdeligent reactor refrigerated by gas) (GCMMR); and other advanced technologies.
The Government told the Committee that it would deploy the ₹ 20,000 million rupees in R&D related to the fuel cycle, and the installation and commissioning of demonstration plants, that is, BSMR of the 200 MWE loop type; and 5 reactor refrigerated by MWT gas (hydrogen generator).
The triple approach of the atomic energy department in the development of SMRs is: reuse of aged thermal energy plants; Captive energy generation aimed at the heavy domestic industry intensive in energy, such as steel and aluminum, with a nominal power of around 200 MW; and small electric plants, typical rating or 50 MW, they mee for remote locations.
Financing Plan
Although BSMR and SMR will be pressurized water reactors, for which India has the technology ready, the design of gas -refrigerated reactors has begun.
According to experts, the Committee recommended that initial financing should focus on BSMR and GCMMR demonstration plants, before large -scale commercialization.
SMRs that use light water are relatively easier to develop, due to the operational experience tested with light water reactors worldwide.
In addition, international collaboration with established nuclear agencies would allow the adoption of best practices in the design of reactors and security protocols. The largest Integrated Nuclear Energy Rosatom in Russia is an important player in this segment.
While the SMRs are expected to represent approximately 41 GW of the 100 GW target for 2047, the rest will be of existing nuclear plants and under construction. The Government anticipates the capacity of 22.48 GW for the objective 2031-32-to which it reached after several downward revisions over the years; Today the country has 8.18 GW.
Perhaps to recognize this, the Committee has recommended addition to gradual capacity, with the general objective of dividing into clear short -term milestones (2030), medium term (2040) and long term (2047).
(The writer is an independent journalist)
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Posted on April 20, 2025