NLC Explores Small Modular Reactors to Drive Clean Energy Transition

In a move that could reshape India's energy landscape, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), a major power producer, is partnering with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCL) to investigate the use of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at its coal mines.

SMRs: A New Nuclear Frontier​

SMRs are a burgeoning technology in the nuclear sector. Unlike traditional reactors with outputs reaching gigawatts, SMRs operate at capacities under 300 MWe – smaller and more modular in their construction.

NLC chairman and managing director M Prasanna Kumar highlights the potential of SMRs to bridge the gap between large-scale nuclear power and the variability of renewable sources like solar and wind.

Potential Benefits for India​

• Grid Stability: SMRs could provide consistent baseload power, ensuring grid stability and potentially mitigating the fluctuations inherent in renewable energy generation.
• The Path to Net-Zero: Aligning with India's goal of net-zero emissions by 2070, SMRs could offer a cleaner energy alternative within the country's current energy mix, which is still significantly reliant on coal.
• Proactive Energy Transition: NLC's pursuit of SMR technology reflects a forward-thinking strategy for transitioning to more sustainable energy solutions.

Early Stages, Promising Potential​

While the collaboration between NLC and NPCL remains in its preliminary phases, this development signifies a promising step towards exploring SMRs within India's energy sector.

The potential benefits in terms of energy security and emission reduction make SMRs a compelling avenue for investigation.

Additional Considerations​

Experts note that alongside the potential benefits, the implementation of SMRs necessitates careful consideration of factors such as:

• Cost: The economic viability of SMRs compared to other energy sources.
• Regulatory Framework: Development of appropriate regulations to govern SMR deployment and operation.
• Public Perception: Addressing potential public concerns surrounding nuclear technology.

The Future of Indian Energy​

The NLC's exploration of SMRs marks a significant development in India's journey towards a cleaner energy future.

Whether SMRs become a cornerstone of this transition remains to be seen, but this initiative certainly adds a compelling new dimension to the conversation.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

The monopoly of NPCL needs to be broken and 100% private investment allowed in nuclear power sector in india. Tata and adani already operate heavily in indian power sector. Tata does reasearch in nuclear science already. They can contribute heavily to nuclear power sector. Just as space sector has recently been opened up, nuclear sector will be opened too.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Private sectors should be allowed to build and operate Nuclear reactors under the strict control of NPCIL, similar to how private sectors are operating in space sector under the strict control of ISRO.

 

[Varaaah]

Each city should have its own small nuclear plants.

 

[Kira]

Each city should have its own small nuclear plants.

May not be as efficient considering integration with the grid and will hugely up the potential security risks many fold.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

Its a race against time , we need to utilise our Trump card of being Young and the worlds most populous democracy hence double or triple the effort in making India a self reliant power by 2047.

 

[Sandeep]

While it's true that developing these SMR can be very useful the problem is that India still needs a huge amount of energy which only large reactors can provide and help. Currently we can't produce enough coal to meet the needed requirements that we have to import some from Russia and Australia to freed our thermal plants. Hopefully by the end of the year we will stop importing coal and we can supply the necessary requirements. We need to build more plants closer to coal mines so we can reduce transportation costs by moving it around the country by rail.

These SMR can be ideal to power islands, forward deployed areas like bases or camps along the border rather than use diesel generators where there's no electricity yet. But these SMR need to be fuelled and currently we are importing uranium so this leaves us strategically vulnerable in times of crisis or any delays in the supply chain.

India should develop thorium fuelled SMR as we have plenty of indigenous fuel to last hundreds of years. We should of built a larger reactor by now but we have only designed and developed a small prototype to make sure the technology is safe, reliable and dependable but we should move to larger reactors to lead and develop this technology that nobody has so far.