SOURCE: AFI
In a bid to meet its ambitious net-zero targets, India is planning to build a large fleet of small nuclear reactors (SNRs) to power hard-to-decarbonize industries like steel and cement. These reactors, a redesigned version of India’s 220-MW pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR), are expected to play a crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint of these energy-intensive sectors.
The initiative, driven by requests from domestic heavy industries, aims to provide a clean and reliable energy source for sectors that have struggled to decarbonize. Anil Kakodkar, former chairman and current member of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, highlighted the growing interest from industry players in having captive nuclear power plants. “Sensitivity about carbon emissions has gone up,” he stated, “and companies whose emissions are hard to abate are particularly conscious of it, because it’s going to hurt them if they cannot bring down the carbon footprint of their products.”
However, India’s BSR program differs significantly from the SMR projects being developed elsewhere. Unlike most international SMR projects that involve designing brand new reactors, India’s BSR program is based on an already mature and proven technology. This approach, according to Kakodkar, can potentially expedite the deployment of these reactors and reduce costs.
Despite the promise of the BSR program, there are concerns about India’s track record in nuclear power development. The country has faced delays and challenges in achieving its nuclear energy goals in the past. M.V. Ramana, a professor of public policy at the University of British Columbia, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the scale and timeline outlined for the new BSR deployments. He noted that the nuclear industry has a history of overpromising and underdelivering, and that the focus on large numbers of reactors may be a tactic to maintain public interest.
While the BSR program offers a potential solution to India’s decarbonization challenges, the success of this initiative will depend on factors such as timely implementation, effective cost management, and addressing any regulatory or technical hurdles.