Why in news?

• India is actively developing three types of SMRs: 200 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), a 55 MW SMR, and a 5 MW High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor focused on hydrogen production.
• Demonstration reactors are planned for construction within the next 5-6 years. India sees SMRs as critical for decarbonization, repurposing retiring coal power plants, and powering remote regions.

About Small Modular Reactors

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear fission reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW electric, about one-third the size of traditional nuclear power reactors.
• They are physically smaller and designed to be factory-fabricated as modular units that can be transported to installation sites, allowing for streamlined construction and scalability.
• SMRs generate energy by harnessing nuclear fission to produce heat, which is then converted to electricity or used for other purposes like desalination and hydrogen production.

Safety and Operation

• SMRs incorporate passive safety features that operate without external power or human intervention.
• Lower power output reduces decay heat risks and mitigates meltdown potential.
• Integral design often contains reactor core, steam generator, and pressurizer within a sealed vessel to prevent contamination.
• Some are planned to operate underground or as floating nuclear power plants.
• Military small reactors have an excellent safety record over decades of operation.

Current Status and Development

• As of 2025, operational SMRs exist in Russia (floating plant Akademik Lomonosov) and China (HTR-PM pebble-bed reactor).
• About 127 SMR designs worldwide, with several in pre-licensing or licensing stages.
• NuScale Power's SMR designs (VOYGR-4 and VOYGR-6) are licensed in the US.
• Significant government and industry interest globally for energy transition and decarbonization.

Environmental and Economic Aspects

• SMRs are considered to support carbon emission reduction and net zero goals.
• Modular construction may reduce on-site costs but have higher per-unit costs due to smaller scale.
• Advanced fuel cycles and waste recycling technologies are being developed to reduce radioactive waste volume.
• Economic competitiveness still debated; large-scale production and deployment needed to lower costs.

Challenges

• Higher surface-to-volume ratio can lead to more neutron leakage and radioactive waste per unit output.
• Licensing and regulatory processes are complex due to diverse designs.
• Proliferation concerns exist, but sealed, long-life fuel designs can improve security.
• Waste management strategies need adaptation to varied SMR fuel cycles.

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