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The Rise of Small Modular Reactors
Historically, nuclear power has had little presence in discussions about climate change. However, small modular reactors (SMRs) are gaining attention as a new technology that could provide a low-carbon complement to renewables. These mini nuclear plants can be built in a factory and transported to a site for assembly.
The Pitch: Faster, Cheaper, and More Flexible
Advocates for SMRs argue that they solve the problems associated with large nuclear plants, such as cost overruns and long construction schedules. Building SMRs in a factory can make the process faster and cheaper. Additionally, SMRs are more flexible, able to adjust their output to complement the variable nature of renewables.
The Plan: Building a Fleet of SMRs
The UK consortium led by Rolls-Royce aims to build a fleet of SMRs in the country and export them worldwide. Each SMR would have a capacity of 470 megawatts, larger than the typical ceiling for an SMR. The consortium plans to initially build four plants on existing nuclear sites in the UK, with a goal of having 16 plants in total.
Potential Success Factors: Lower Costs and International Interest
SMRs have the potential to be more cost-effective compared to large-scale nuclear and gas plants with carbon capture and storage. They could also meet the growing international interest in nuclear power, with countries like France, Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, and the US showing interest in SMRs.
Potential Challenges: Slow Progress and Critics
Despite the potential, progress on SMRs has been slow. Outside of Russia, there are no commercial SMRs connected to power grids. Critics argue that the economies of scale that have been touted for large nuclear plants may not work for SMRs. Other concerns include the production of radioactive waste and the vulnerability of coastal SMR sites to climate change impacts.
What’s Next for SMRs?
The Rolls-Royce SMR group has submitted its reactor design for approval to the UK nuclear regulator. The process could take around five years. The group also needs to select factory locations and obtain a Contract for Difference from the UK government to guarantee a floor price for the electricity generated by the SMRs.
While there are challenges ahead, observers believe that SMRs could play an important role in decarbonizing power grids and complementing renewables. The potential cost savings and flexibility of SMRs make them an attractive proposition.
More from Science Spotlight
- Climate Change Summit Outcome: An analysis suggests that the pledges made at COP26 put the world on track for a temperature rise between 2.2°C and 2.9°C, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to combat climate change.
- Green Hydrogen: A wind farm near Glasgow is set to have an electrolyser installed, using renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen.
- Generating Electricity from Rainwater: Researchers have demonstrated the use of microbial fuel cells to generate electricity from rainwater.
- Tidal Power Boost: The UK government has announced £20 million in subsidies for tidal power projects, aiming to further promote renewable energy sources.
- Net Zero Pledges: The number of countries and companies with net zero pledges has increased, but some companies have been less clear about their plans for carbon offsets.
Explore more stories in the Science Spotlight universe, including an article on the impact of UK energy firm Bulb’s collapse on the renewables revolution and a new wildlife tour in Sri Lanka offered by Discovery Tours.
