The document discusses the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) for flexible energy generation and grid stabilization in various regions. It highlights that SMRs can replace aging fossil fuel units and contribute to the integration of renewable energy sources while emphasizing their affordability and safety features. Additionally, it outlines various countries' efforts in deploying SMR technology and the challenges faced in regulatory frameworks and public acceptance.

1. Atoms for the Future 2013 – SFEN Jeune Generation,
Paris, France, 21 – 22 October 2013
Small Modular Reactors
and their use for Specific Power Grids
Dr. M. Hadid Subki
Technical Lead, SMR Technology Development
Division of Nuclear Power, Department of Nuclear Energy
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency

2. Motivation – Driving Forces …
• The need for flexible power generation for wider
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•
•
•
range of users and applications;
Replacement of aging fossil-fired units;
Potential for enhanced safety margin through
inherent and/or passive safety features;
Economic consideration – better affordability;
Potential for innovative energy systems:
• Cogeneration & non-electric applications
• Hybrid energy systems of nuclear with renewables
IAEA
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3. Electric Capacity additions and required
investment 2011 – 2035 Source: IEA World Energy Outlook 2011, New Policies Scenario
Capacity addition,
GWe
Power generation
investment, billion $
Transmission &
Distribution
investment, billion $
North America
880
1,738
1,271
Europa
938
1,976
915
East Europe, Eurasia
331
588
442
Asia
2,893
4,106
3,486
Other
854
1,383
978
5,986
9,791
7,092
Regions
World total
Asia has the largest capacity addition in the next 2 decades - that
requires the largest investment for transmission and distribution
IAEA

4. Use of SMRs for electricity grid-stabilization
• In the EU:
• large power markets & well interconnected grid
• large power additions/subtractions could cause grid instabilities.
• future systems will have increasing shares of renewable energy sources
(mainly wind power) that will affect the electrical grid operation and require a
different and more flexible back-up approach.
• Most SMR concepts intended for generating base-load power; however
innovative concept can be operated in a load-following
• Some new concepts will have enhanced load follow capability
• If SMRs cost competitive with clean coal & natural gas, they could be
used as peak and back-up power units.
• The EU and some countries also studying a “smart grid” and energy
storage systems
• Allow greater use of decentralized sources of renewable energy which would
also enable economic operation of nuclear reactors producing base-load
electricity.
Source: D. Shropshire, EC – JRC, 2011
IAEA

5. Countries considering SMR technology
deployment – domestically
Middle-East
Africa
Europe
Asia
America
Algeria
Jordan
Albania
Bangladesh
Argentina
Egypt
UAE
Armenia
China
Canada
Kenya
Bulgaria
India
Chile
Nigeria
Finland
Indonesia
USA
South Africa
France
Japan
Tunisia
Germany
Korea
Hungary
Malaysia
Italy
Pakistan
Poland
Singapore
Romania
Thailand
Russia
Vietnam
Legend / Results
Considering
20/37
Not considering
14/37
Undecided
Country
3/37
technology 13/37
developer
Spain
UK
IAEA IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on Ukraine
6th
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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6. Grid Characteristics
Interconnected and Regional Grids preferred
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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7. Site Selection issues 50
45
Very Important
40
More Important
Important
35
Less Important
30
Not Important
25
20
15
10
5
0
Distance from
application
centres
Space
Access to External events Grid structure
cooling water
(EE) &
and potential
combined EE
other
Off-grid remote power requirements, public acceptance etc.
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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8. Siting for NPP and/or specific for SMR
• Russia: KLT-40S FNPP construction near completion; site for
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•
•
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SVBR-100 construction prepared;
China is constructing HTR-PM in Shiadowan;
Argentina completed site excavation for CAREM-25
US-DOE sponsors deployment of mPower for TVA in Clinch
River Site for 2022 time frame; Potential utilities identified for
NuScale, W-SMR and SMR-160
Canada’s comprehensive study on deployment of SMRs in
remote areas in the southern and northern territories;
Embarking countries in South East Asia with archipelago have
several candidate sites for SMRs;
Korea: several local governments invite SMR construction
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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9. SMRs for Non-Electric Application
18%
Desalination
H2 production
54%
20%
District heating
Process heat for industry
8%
In addition to Desalination – SMRs expected to produce process heat for
industry, and district heat in arctic sites
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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10. Current Newcomer Countries Plan
Country
Bangladesh
Grid Capacity
in GWe
5.8
Current Deployment Plan
2 x 1000 MWe PWRs in Rooppur in 2018
Vietnam
15.19
4 x 1000 MWe PWRs in Ninh Thuan #1 by 2020
4 x 1000 MWe PWRs in Ninh Thuan #2 by 2025
Jordan
2.6
2 x 1000 - 1100 MWe PWR + interest in SMR
UAE
23.25
4 x 1400 MWe PWR in Braka by 2018
Belarus
8.03
2 x 1200 MWe PWR in Ostrovets by 2018
Turkey
44.76
4 x 1200 MWe PWR in Akkuyu by 2022
4 x 1100 MWe PWR in Sinop by 2025
Malaysia
25.54
2 x 1000 MWe LWRs by 2025 + interest in SMR
Indonesia
32.8
2 x 1000 LWRs, with potential interest of deploying
Small Reactors for industrial process and non-electric
applications by 2024
IAEA
Commercial unavailability limits Newcomer
Countries in advanced SMR Technology Selection
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11. Status of Countries on SMR Initiatives
Which countries
deploy SMRs?
Technology developer countries
(NPPs in operation)
Countries with NPPs
Newcomer countries
Asia
Europe
Africa
IAEA
Latin America
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12. Countries preference in particular
SMR design and technology
• Integral-PWR type SMRs with modularization are
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under in Argentina, China, India, Korea, Russia
and the United States;
RF prioritizes FNPP and LMFR-SVBR-100
France & Russia develop marine-based SMRs
Embarking countries undecided on designs, but
preferred proven-technology.
Some embarking countries have started
deployment of large reactors, due to lack of
commercial availability of advanced SMRs;
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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13. Countries preference in particular
SMR design and technology
Africa
Algeria
Middle-East
FNPP
Jordan iPWR
Europe
Asia
Albania
Bangladesh
Egypt
Finland iPWR
Kenya
Poland HTRs
Nigeria
Romania
iPWRs
China
HTR, FBR,
iPWR
Tunisia
Legend / Results
Technology Neutral
Russia
FNPP, LMFRs, iPWRs,
SBRs
India
PHWR, HTR,
FBR, LWR
America
Argentina
iPWR
Canada
iPWR, HTRs,
LM-FRs
U S A iPWR
Indonesia
Korea
iPWR, HTR,
LM-FBR
Malaysia
Pakistan
iPWRs, PWR
Thailand
IAEA IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
6th
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
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29 July - 2 August 2013

14. On modularization technology
Capable of adding
modules within a
common building
22%
39%
39%
Separate secondary sys
for additional modules
Modularization not
necessary
~80% preferred SMR with Modularization to be competitive with LRs and
NG and clean-coal plants ~ construction schedule wise
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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15. Innovative Application of SMRs with Non-Nuclear
Source: U.S. DOE, 2010
IAEA
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16. Application of Hybrid Energy System of SMRs with
Cogeneration and Renewable Energy Sources
Source: J. Carlsson, D. Shropshire, EC – JRC, 2011
Max Output of 1061 MWe
to the power GRID ►►
Regional Biomass
(80 Km radius or
~2 million hectares)
Composite
Wind Farms
Variable
Electricity ►
1.000.000
t/DM/yr
Node
104 GWh
heat at 200C
1018 MWe
Offsetting SMR ▲
Electricity
Reactor
Heat ►
Dynamic
Energy
Switching
Nuclear reactor
347 MWe (755 MWth)
IAEA
Hydrogen
Electrolysis
1169 GWh
heat at 500C
Drying and
Torrefaction
Processes
Torrified Product
+ Pyrolysis
Pyrolyzed oil + char + offgas
42.000 t H2/yr
+Synfuel
Production
753m3/day bio-diesel
597m3/day bio-gasoline
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17. Issues of Integrating SMR + Cogeneration + Wind
Source: J. Carlsson, D. Shropshire, EC – JRC, 2011
• Challenge in finding the optimal ratio of the wind
farm capacity to nuclear capacity, while providing
adequate heat to support biomass processing
while matching power demands
• Variability of power to grid relative to instantaneous
demand should be minimized
• If nuclear is sized too large, variability of power
production may be reduced, however, process
heat and electricity are wasted
• Biomass availability is a key constraint
IAEA

18. Economic Trade-offs
Source: J. Carlsson, D. Shropshire, EC – JRC, 2011
Hybrid System with RES
Compensates variable RES
Electricity price in
balancing/peaking markets
Conventional System
with RES
Highly variable RES
Electricity price in
base-load electricity market
Value from Synfuels
Additional capital and
operating costs, some loss of
thermal efficiency
Little or no backup capacity
needed, no carbon emitted
Cost to remove waste heat
Addition of grid upgrades and
energy storage for balancing,
subject to fuel price volatility
100% backup for RES, using
natural gas, subject to C-tax
IAEA

19. Impediments on Introducing SMRS
over Large NPPs
Key Impediments: operating records of advanced SMRs/proven
technology; safety concerns in post-Fukushima.
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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20. Issues on licensing and regulation in
SMR deployment
• The need to develop legal and institutional frameworks, particularly for
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deployment in foreign market;
Lack of human resource, skills and capacity, limited operating
experience in advanced SMRs;
Public acceptance, lack of persistent support from governments, and no
laws and regulations for both NPP and SMR in new entrants;
The need to assure that SMR regulatory framework is applied
commensurate with attended risk, so deployment can be accomplished
in a cost-effective manner and competitive with alternative energies;
Long lead-time to prepare for and receive regulatory review;
The need to get sufficient regulatory credit for inherent safety and
security in the design;
For SMR with innovative features: review code & standards that impact
licensing. Could take 2 – 5 years to develop and approve revisions.
Embarking countries lack of infrastructure and HR to conduct
technology assessment and R&D for HR development;
IAEA
6th IAEA INPRO Dialogue Forum on
Licensing and Safety Issues of SMRs
29 July - 2 August 2013
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21. What’s New in Global SMR Development?
mPower
NuScale
W-SMR
Hi-SMUR
EM2, GTMHR
B&W received US-DOE funding for mPower design. The total funding is
452M$/5 years for 2 out of 4 competing iPWR based-SMRs. Some have
utilities to deploy in specific sites. US-DOE also announced the second round
of SMR funding in March 2013.
SMART
On 4 July 2012, the Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Commission issued
the Standard Design Approval for the 100 MWe SMART – the first iPWR
received certification.
KLT-40s
SVBR-100
BREST-300
SHELF
Construction of 2 modules of barge-mounted KLT-40s near completion; Lead
Bismuth cooled SVBR-100 & Lead-cooled BREST-300 to deploy by 2018,
SHELF seabed-based conceptual design
Flexblue
DCNS originated Flexblue capsule, 50-250 MWe, 60-100m seabed-moored,
5-15 km from the coast, off-shore and local control rooms
CAREM-25
Site excavation for CAREM-25 completed; licensed for construction, first
concrete pouring ~ November 2013
4S
PFBR-500
PHWRs: 220,
540 & 700,
AHWR300-LEU
IAEA
Toshiba had promoted the 4S for a design certification with the US NRC for
application in Alaska and newcomer countries.
The Prototype FBR ready for commissioning and start-up test. 4 units of
PHWR-700 under construction, 4 more units to follow. AHWR300-LEU at
final detailed design stage and ready for construction.
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22. What’s New in Global SMR Development? (cont’d)
CEFR
HTR-PM
ACP-100
CAP-150
IRIS
2 modules of HTR-PM under construction;
CNNC developing ACP-100 which will be constructed by 2018
SNPTC developing CAP-150 and CAP-S
Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) and universities in Croatia & Japan are
continuing the development of IRIS design - previously lead by the
Westinghouse Consortium
Recently introduced at the 2012 – 2013 IAEA SMR Meetings:
ACP-100, CNNC, China
CAP-150, SNERDI, China
IAEA
Flexblue, DCNS, France
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23. Reactors Under Construction in SMR category
Country
Reactor
Model
Output
(MWe)
Designer
Number
of units
Argentina
CAREM-25
(a prototype)
27
CNEA
1
China
HTR-PM
250
Tsinghua
Univ./Harbin
2 mods,
1 turbine
India
PFBR-500
(a prototype)
500
IGCAR
1
Russian
Federation
KLT-40S
(ship-borne)
30
OKBM
Afrikantov
2
FNPP
IAEA
Site, Plant ID, and
unit #
Commercial
Start
CAREM-25
2017 ~ 2018
Shidaowan unit 1
2017 ~ 2018
Kalpakkam
2013
Akademik Lomonosov units 1 & 2
2015
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24. SMRs for Near-term Deployment
Name
Design
Organization
Country of
Origin
Electrical
Capacity,
MWe
1
System Integrated
Modular Advanced
Reactor (SMART)
Korea Atomic Energy
Research Institute
Republic of Korea
100
2
SVBR-100
JSC AKME Engineering
100
3
mPower
Babcock & Wilcox
180/module
4
NuScale
NuScale Power Inc.
Russian
Federation
United States of
America
United States of
America
5
Westinghouse
SMR
Westinghouse
United States of
America
225
6
ACP100
CNNC/NPIC
China
100
IAEA
45/module
Design Status
Standard Design Approval
Received 4 July 2012
Detailed design for
prototype construction
Design Certification
Application starts mid 2014
Design Certification
Application starts mid 2014
Design Certification
Application starts mid 2014
Basic Design, Construction
Starts in 2016

25. Perceived Advantages and Challenges
IAEA Observation
Advantages
Challenges
Technological Issues
Non-Technological
Issues
• Shorter construction period
(modularization)
• Potential for enhanced safety and
reliability
• Design simplicity
• Suitability for non-electric
application (desalination, etc.).
• Replacement for aging fossil
plants, reducing GHG emissions
• Licensability (due to innovative or
first-of-a-kind engineering structure,
systems and components)
• Non-LWR technologies
• Operability performance/record
• Human factor engineering; operator
staffing for multiple-modules plant
• Post Fukushima action items on
design and safety
• Fitness for smaller electricity grids
• Options to match demand growth
by incremental capacity increase
• Site flexibility
• Reduced emergency planning zone
• Lower upfront capital cost (better
affordability)
• Easier financing scheme
• Economic competitiveness
• First of a kind cost estimate
• Regulatory infrastructure (in both
expanding and newcomer countries)
• Availability of design for newcomers
• Infrastructure requirements
• Post Fukushima action items on
institutional issues and public
acceptance
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IAEA

26. Summary
• Studies needed to evaluate the potential benefits of deploying SMRs in
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grid systems that contain large shares of renewable energy.
Studies needed to assess SMR “target costs” in future cogeneration
markets, the benefits from coupling SMRs with wind turbines to
stabilize the power grid, and impacts on sustainability measures from
deployment.
There are technical challenges in integrating nuclear with RES,
however “no solution that allows significant increases to
renewable energy penetration in the grid will be simple”
SMR is an attractive option to enhance energy supply security in
newcomer countries with small grids and less-developed
infrastructure and in advanced countries requiring power supplies in
remote areas and/or specific purpose;
Innovative SMR concepts have common technology development
challenges, including regulatory and licensing frameworks
IAEA
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27. … Thank you for your attention.
IAEA
For inquiries, please contact:
Dr. M. Hadid Subki <M.Subki@iaea.org>
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