Technical and non-technical issues and challenges to realize nuclear power and SMR safety-in-design to levelized the perception as part of lower carbon national energy portfolio

Abstract

Nuclear power reactors, here focused on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), are needed to address continuing demand for electricity, and to offset the impacts of damage linked to climate change. There are global commitments to transition to lower-to-net-zero economies of scale, with ambitious goals declared by nations, typically from 2030 to 2070. In the near-term (2030), cost reductions to address the high “first to nth” of a kind cost of nuclear power plant are needed, not only in terms of innovative safety-in-design and engineering, but integration of advancements in manufacturing, construction on cost and schedule, introduction of innovations such as AR/VR and AI/ML, and financing guarantees. Further, onsite or nearby production of hydrogen / ammonia, desalination, thermochemical processes, industrial/domestic heating, indicate complexity in operations but may add value. The diversity of applications will require flexible, risk-informed codes and standards, and possible harmonized regulatory approaches, unlike today. This work describes consideration of plausible scenarios, emerging technical and non- technical gains that may reduce first-to-nth-of -a-kind costs. This also impacts the public acceptance, and investments, as these are often driven by perceptions. The authors will describe the likely reductions in costs scenarios, and hypothetical gains in value, to make SMR competitive within the transition that may matter to mitigating climate change.