Applicability of SMR Technology for Japan

Abstract

As the world considers SMRs as an option for climate change, the use of SMRs in different regions needs to be considered. Japan has successfully restarted 10 of its large reactors since the Fukushima Daiichi event all of which are large scale reactors. In Japan, which depends on imports for energy resources, nuclear power generation is an important source of base-load power. On the other front, the place where Japanese nuclear power plants can be installed are limited. Therefore, a large-scale reactor is required for a nuclear reactor operated to obtain maximum from the site area. This is challenging to install SMRs only for the purpose of obtaining electric power in Japan. Thus, it is important to examine multipurpose uses of SMRs in Japan to determine whether there is a role for them to play. This paper examines the current status of SMR designs and their potential use for non-power applications. The paper also reviews the non-power requirements in Japan and attempts to match possible SMR types against non-power requirements. Considerations such as heat for chemical processes, hydrogen production, are discussed.