72 designs of SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) are in different stages of development around the world, a 40% increase from 2018. Do you want to know what they are, what they are for, and why they are revolutionary?
The technology of small modular reactors (SMRs) offers opportunities to expand the role of nuclear energy to decarbonize the overall energy mix, especially in non-electric applications in difficult-to-electrify sectors.
SMRs are not a recent development. The first commercial reactors were developed in the late 1950s based on light water reactor (LWR) technology, and small naval propulsion reactors were also developed.
What makes today's small modular reactors a small revolution is not simply their size, but their design, which takes advantage of the smaller size to add innovative safety features, load following, and non-electric applications.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are nuclear reactors with an output power between 10 and 300 MWe, with greater modularization, standardization, and mass production. The modules are transported and assembled, saving time and money. Several SRMs are in operation and others will be during this decade.
Key players:
Roll-Royce(RR) – UK
The Rolls-Royce SMR, also known as the UK SMR, is a small modular reactor (SMR) being developed by the Rolls-Royce (RR) company in the United Kingdom. The company has been given financial support by the UK Government to develop its design. The SMR is based on a proven pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology, which is the most common type of nuclear reactor in the world. The SMR is designed to be smaller, simpler, and more efficient than traditional PWRs. It is also designed to be manufactured in a factory and then transported to the site where it will be installed.
The Rolls-Royce SMR is currently in the early stages of development. The company is working to finalize the design and is also developing a manufacturing plan. The company is expected to submit a design for regulatory approval in 2024.
Westinghouse Electric Company(BBU) – US
Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) is a leading developer of SMR technology. WEC has developed some SMR designs, including the AP1000 SMR and the eVinci™ Microreactor. The AP1000 SMR is a 300 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) that is based on the proven AP1000 reactor design. The eVinci™ Microreactor is a 5 MW PWR that is designed for remote applications, such as powering remote communities or military bases.
Its reactors can be divided into two groups:
Lead-cooled fast reactors (LFRs): LFRs are a type of SMR that uses molten lead as a coolant. LFRs are more efficient than PWRs, and they can also be used to breed new fuel from existing fuel.
High-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs): HTGRs are a type of SMR that uses helium gas as a coolant. HTGRs can operate at higher temperatures than PWRs, and they can be used to produce hydrogen.
NuScale(SMR)
NuScale Power Corporation is an American company that is developing a small modular reactor (SMR) design called the NuScale Power Module. The NuScale Power Module is a 77-megawatt (MW) pressurized water reactor (PWR) that is designed to be smaller, safer, and more scalable than traditional nuclear reactors.
NuScale has received design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its NuScale Power Module, and the company is currently working to develop a construction permit and an operating license from the NRC. NuScale is also working to secure financing for its first SMR plant, which is planned to be built in Idaho.
Oklo(ALCC) – US Fun fact: The founder is OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman.
The Aurora small modular reactor (SMR) is a design being developed by Oklo, a company based in Idaho, United States. The Aurora SMR is a 15 megawatt (MW) pressurized water reactor (PWR) that is designed to be smaller, safer, and more efficient than traditional nuclear reactors.
The Aurora SMR is still in the early stages of development, but it has the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. SMRs are a promising technology that can provide clean, safe, and reliable energy for a wide range of applications.
Oklo has received a site use permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build a demonstration Aurora SMR at the Idaho National Laboratory. The company is also working to secure financing for the demonstration plant.
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