India looks to SMRs – Nuclear Engineering International

India’s Union Minister of State, Jitendra Singh, has said that India is taking steps for the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), with up to 300MWe capacity to fulfill its commitment to the Clean Energy transition, according to a press release by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

In his address to a workshop on SMRs organized by NITI Aayog and DAE, Singh said, the participation of the private sector and start-ups needs to be explored in the development of this critical technology within India. He emphasized that technology sharing and the availability of funding are the two crucial links for ensuring the commercial availability of SMR technology.

He said, the exploration of new clean energy options is in tune with Prime Minister Modi’s roadmap for clean energy transition through bold climate commitments which are reflected in our updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Singh pointed out that as India has already taken steps towards a clean energy transition with penetration of non-fossil based energy resources and achieving net-zero by 2070, nuclear in terms of baseload power can play a big role in the de-carbonization strategy. In this context the role of nuclear energy will be critical for the clean energy transition of not just India but for the entire world, he added.

SMRs offer significant savings in cost and construction time. They represent a promising technology in industrial de-carbonization, especially where there is a requirement for reliable and continuous supply of power and are simpler and safer compared with large nuclear plants, the statement noted.

Image: India’s Union Minister of State, Jitendra Singh (courtesy of NITI Aayog)

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