COVER STORY | STANDARDISING REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
Unlocking SMR standardisation
Constantly changing licensing protocols and safety requirements force innovators and operators to reinvent the wheel for every nuclear project. The solution is standardisation that will lead SMRs and nuclear energy as a whole to a future where the benefits can be felt much faster.
By Olli Soppela, Research Scientist, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (SMRs) OFFER a compelling solution to the dual challenges of climate change mitigation and energy security. Their reduced size, enhanced safety features, and modular design make them suitable for a diverse range of applications, including district heating, industrial process heat, and maritime propulsion. However, despite their potential, widespread adoption of
SMRs faces several critical hindrances that limit their ability to contribute fully to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. Despite already being the safest energy generation technology, constantly changing and regionally varying licensing protocols and safety requirements set for nuclear energy and nuclear plants set obstacles and challenges that force innovators and operators to reinvent the wheel for every nuclear project. That said, international collaboration and increased
dialogue between governments and companies can lead SMRs and nuclear energy as a whole to a future where societies can enjoy the benefits of responsible nuclear power much faster.
The challenge of standardisation One of the most significant barriers to SMR deployment is the lack of standardisation between different countries. The regulatory and political landscape for nuclear energy varies significantly across jurisdictions, creating a complex and fragmented market. Each country has its own set of safety requirements, licensing procedures, and technical standards for nuclear power plants. This lack of harmonisation necessitates the customisation of designs and licensing strategies for each target market, a time-consuming and costly process that hinders the scalability and economic viability of SMR projects. The lack of standardisation extends to the supply chain
for SMR components and systems. Manufacturers must adapt their production processes and quality control procedures to meet the specific requirements of different countries. The fragmentation of the supply chain can lead to higher costs and longer lead times for SMR projects. The absence of common standards has several critical implications for SMR deployment. First, it increases the
Above: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland leads a project called ‘Ecosystem for Small Modular Reactor Solutions’, which aims to develop and demonstrate SMR technologies for district heating and other applications
16 | April 2025 |
www.neimagazine.com
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