CLIMATE | SMALL MODULAR REACTORS
Why SMRs will shape the future of nuclear debate
Small modular reactors are gaining the attention of governments and power providers across the world because of the optionality they offer. But the champions of the SMR will have to work hard to ensure its
potential can be fully unlocked, as Daniel Garton, Richard Hill, Andrew McDougall, Kirsten Odynski, Dipen Sabharwal and Vit Stehlik explain
Daniel Garton, Richard Hill, Andrew McDougall QC, Kirsten Odynski, Dipen Sabharwal QC and Vit Stehlik are partners at law firm White & Case
WITH COP26 FAST APPROACHING, FOCUS is turning to Glasgow and whether heads of state, climate experts and campaigners can agree coordinated action to tackle climate change in what the UN has described as a “make or break year” in the fight against global warming. According to reports, no nuclear groups have been awarded space in the so-called Green Zone at COP26 that allows different stakeholders to communicate their message to the conference and to the general public, promoting greater dialogue and awareness. This prompted the director general of the World Nuclear
Association, Sama Bilbao y León, to send an open letter to Alok Sharma MP, COP26’s president, urging the conference to treat nuclear energy fairly and to ensure that it is well represented alongside other low carbon energy sources. It appears that the cost and scale of nuclear projects,
along with major accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, continue to pose challenges for the industry. However, the arrival of the small modular reactor (SMR) is being billed by some as a potential solution to many of these issues, and one that can play a role in a cleaner future.
Heavyweight backing SMRs are at an early stage of development, but they already have some serious backers. US President Joe Biden has signalled that they have a role to play in the world’s biggest economy’s US$2 trillion investment in clean energy, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also said he will put money into the concept. Companies including EDF — the world’s biggest nuclear plant operator — and Rolls-Royce are also championing the SMR. These small plants can provide reliable energy in the
form of both electricity and heat to power a city of about 100,000 people. The heat can help lower the emissions from carbon-intensive industries such as steel and cement making, while the baseload power could complement renewables such as wind and solar power. The SMR offers a step change from the existing world of nuclear power.
20 | October 2021 |
www.neimagazine.com
The case for nuclear The global power sector accounts for approximately one- third of global emissions, with the burning of fossil fuels still the dominant source. The role of renewable energy generation — amid dramatic falling costs — has risen exponentially in recent years, but the inability of solar and wind to deliver reliable baseload generation has meant that many countries still rely on fossil fuels to fulfil that role. Nuclear reactors generate virtually emission-free power, which means they can play a crucial role in global efforts to lower emissions and reach the Paris climate goals.
The pressure is on governments around the world to
replace fossil-fuel power generation. Providing affordable and clean energy is one of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and at least 80% of the world’s electricity must be low carbon by 2050 — by which point the world’s energy consumption is expected to have more than doubled — to have a realistic chance of keeping warming within 2°C of pre-industrial levels. Nuclear plants have a small environmental footprint
and keep the air clean. They require only a small amount of fuel compared to gas or coal, and take up a fraction of the space required for wind and solar farms. A report published in August by one of the UN’s own bodies — the Economic Commission for Europe — reinforced the crucial role that nuclear power can play in the transition to a clean energy future.
What is an SMR? SMRs are broadly defined as nuclear reactors with a capacity of less than 300MWe. This compares to current nuclear power plants, with capacity up to 1600MWe. The attraction of building smaller plants, based on a set design, is clear. Plants can be built quickly and to a proven standard. Additional plants can be added as more power is required, and economies of scale can be achieved as they are built in numbers. The capital outlay also becomes manageable for smaller utilities, whereas at the moment
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