100 GW nuclear target to be met via large reactors; SMRs for rapid decarbonisation: Minister tells LS

New Delhi: The government has said India’s target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 will be met primarily through the deployment of large nuclear reactors, including 700 MWe indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and large-capacity imported advanced reactor designs at greenfield sites.

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In a written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh stated that small modular reactors (SMRs), while important, are “considered to be fit for rapid decarbonisation of energy sector” rather than the primary drivers of capacity addition.

SMRs prioritised for brownfield & industrial use

According to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), SMRs are being prioritised for deployment at brownfield sites as captive power plants, particularly for energy-intensive industries, the repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based power plants, and remote locations with no grid connectivity.

The government said SMRs are suitable where “reliable and continuous supply of power” is required and can be engineered for load-following operation, offering greater flexibility compared to conventional reactors.

Lower land needs, shorter construction timelines

The Lok Sabha reply highlighted several technical advantages of SMRs, including significantly lower exclusion zones, which reduce land requirements, and shorter construction periods, translating into lower capital costs.

The designs can also be standardised for serial production, making them suitable for industrial decarbonisation and off-grid applications.

Indigenous SMR designs under development

Under the Nuclear Energy Mission, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has initiated the design and development of multiple indigenous SMRs, including a 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) and a 55 MWe SMR-55, the minister told the Lower House of Parliament.

While the detailed project report for the BSMR-200 has been approved and awaits financial sanction, design detailing and prototype development are underway for the SMR-55. A high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth for hydrogen generation is also under development.

Fuel cycle readiness and industry participation

DAE is leveraging its experience with indigenous PHWRs across the entire nuclear fuel cycle, with slightly enriched uranium (SEU) being considered as potential fuel for proposed SMRs, said the minister.

The minister noted that most SMR equipment falls within the manufacturing capability of Indian industry, with technological handholding by BARC, although reprocessing technologies will need re-engineering based on SMR fuel configurations.

SHANTI Act to enable innovation

The minister also said that the SHANTI Act allows any person to undertake research, development, design and innovation in nuclear energy for peaceful uses without obtaining a licence, a provision aimed at promoting new reactor technologies, including SMRs.

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