India's SMR ambitions get a private sector boost, Pg11.

Key Highlights:

• Six private entities including Reliance Industries, Tata Power, and Adani Power have shown interest in setting up Small Modular Reactor (SMR) projects in India.
• The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has proposed 'Bharat Small Modular Reactors' (BSMRs) for this initiative.
• 16 tentative sites across six states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh have been marked for these projects.
• NPCIL will retain operational control and asset ownership, while private players will have rights over the net electricity generated for captive use.

Detailed Insights:

• SMRs ranging from 30MWe to 300 MWe are seen as a commercially competitive option for nuclear energy, especially with delays in large nuclear projects.
• SMRs can provide low-carbon electricity for energy-intensive industries like steel, aluminum, and cement, and can repurpose decommissioned thermal power plants.
• Global tech companies like Google and Microsoft are considering nuclear energy to power data centers, seeking a clean, round-the-clock power source.
• Two SMR projects are currently operational globally: the Akademik Lomonosov in Russia and the HTR-PM in China.
• The BSMR project aims to position India in the manufacturing value chain of SMRs and promote industrial decarbonization.
• India is developing SMR prototypes through the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and exploring technology from the US, Russia, and other countries.
• Legislative amendments are underway to align India's atomic energy sector laws with global standards, addressing investor concerns and opening the sector.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Small Modular Reactor (SMR): Small nuclear reactors with a capacity of 30MWe to 300 MWe per unit.
• Captive Use: Generation of power for own consumption and not for sale to others.
• Decarbonisation: Reducing carbon emissions, especially from industrial processes.