Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are one of the possible future solutions for a reliable supply of low-carbon energy. They promise greater flexibility, faster construction, and lower initial investment costs.. SMRsare designed for the production of electrical and thermal energy, combining compactness and modularity in their design.

Image source: IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency

Key advantages: compactness and modularity

Its small size allows for a wider range of potential locations for installation, with former coal-fired power plant sites being particularly interesting. The modular design enables mass production of components in factories and quick assembly on site.

Compared to conventional reactors with an electrical output of 1000 MW or more, SMRs offer a nominal output of up to 300 MW and a significantly shorter construction time. These include light water pressure tube and boiling water reactors based on proven technology, as well as advanced fourth-generation designs such as gas-cooled reactors and fast breeder reactors. These are still in the development phase.

Study by GEN Energija: overview of SMR technology development

A study prepared by GEN Energija at the end of last year focuses on reviewing the current development of small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The technical report entitled “Review of SMR Reactor Technologies” is based on data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD NEA), providing a global insight into the dynamic developments in this field. The study highlights the advantages of SMRs, such as their flexibility and modular design, while also addressing the challenges they face in terms of licensing and deployment. GEN Energija points out in the study that SMRs represent a potential solution for reliable low-carbon energy production, especially in regions with limited space and infrastructure options. Special attention is paid to economic aspects, where lower initial capital costs make them accessible to a wider range of investors. Nevertheless, the study points to the technical requirements and lengthy licensing procedures that are characteristic of the early stages of technology development.

The full text of the study is published here:

Go to study

In Velenje, on the energy future of Slovenia and the potential of SMR

The importance of small modular reactors in the SAŠA region was the central theme of the consultation entitled The Road to a Low-Carbon Future: The Role of SMRs as Catalysts for the Just Transition in the SAŠA Region, which took place in Velenje on 13 March. The event, co-organised by the SAŠA Centre for Just Transition, which operates within the SAŠA Development Agency, the Faculty of Energy, the Municipality of Velenje, the Municipality of Šoštanj, the KSSENA Institute, and the SMR STEPS initiative, brought together more than a hundred participants, including decision makers, representatives of the economy, energy, and the wider professional public.

Biljana Škarja, M.A., Director of RA SAŠA

The introductory speech was also given by the Director of the SAŠA Development Agency, Biljana Škarja, M.A., who addressed the challenges facing the SAŠA region in the just transition and, among other things, highlighted the key role of the SAŠA Centre for Just Transition in supporting the region in its transition from coal to sustainable energy solutions. The SAŠA Centre for Just Transition is actively involved in project preparation, stakeholder information and training, and efforts to revitalise degraded areas, including support for the development of low-carbon technologies such as small modular reactors. The consultation highlighted the need for a stable investment environment and skilled workforce, which is key to the successful energy and economic restructuring of the region. A video recording of the speech by Biljana Škarja and other contributions from the consultation can be found on the SMR STEPS initiative’s YouTube channel:

Watch the video

SMRs open up new possibilities, but require careful planning

In the future, SMRs could make a significant contribution to the transition to low-carbon energy, but their wider implementation requires further technological development, financial investment, and the removal of regulatory barriers.. This innovative technology opens up new possibilities, but at the same time requires careful planning and international cooperation.

Advantages and challenges of small modular reactors

GENERAL

ADVANTAGES

  • Simplified design
  • Factory-built modules
  • Inherent safety and passive safety systems
  • Smaller impact area
  • Greater flexibility of connection to the power grid and possibility of connection to RES

CHALLENGES

  • First-of-a-kind projects and prototypes are underway
  • Technology has not yet been tested
  • Technical requirements in Europe have not yet been standardised (no design has yet received a EUR certificate of design adequacy)
  • Licensing procedures will be lengthy at the beginning
  • Longer construction times are expected for initial projects

SERIAL PRODUCTION

ADVANTAGES

  • Shorter construction time on site
  • Lower economic risks
  • Economy of serial production
  • Lower capital costs

CHALLENGES

  • Supply chains not yet established
  • Lack of knowledge and experience in the field of small modular reactor technology
  • The economic effects of serial production will not be realised for another 10 years
  • Lack of economies of scale
  • Higher specific area occupancy (m²/kW)
Adapted from jedrska.si
Dr. Bruno Glaser, GEN energija:

“At GEN Energija, as the leading promoter of new nuclear technologies in Slovenia, we strive to develop innovative solutions, among which small modular reactors have exceptional potential. In addition to continuing the key JEK2 project, we have established a team of engineers to monitor new nuclear technologies and the most promising SMR solutions. We are guided by a clear goal: to prepare the professional and technical basis in a timely manner that will enable the inclusion of SMRs in Slovenia’s energy mix. By closely monitoring technological developments, communicating directly with suppliers, and conducting in-depth studies on possible locations and integration into the Slovenian energy system, we are laying the foundations for the potential introduction of SMR technology in Slovenia. Our goal is to develop a concrete SMR project by 2030 that will be ready for further development and potential implementation.”

For more information on the SMR STEPS initiative, which brings together Slovenian members of the European Industrial Alliance for SMR, visit www.smrsteps.eu. The Slovenian members of the alliance are (in alphabetical order): Consensus, EIMV, GEN Energija, Instrumentation Technologies, IJS, Zavod KSSENA (Energy Agency for Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška), Papirnica Vevče and the University of Ljubljana with the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

Author: Mojca Drevenšek, M.A., Consensus, in cooperation with the SAŠA Centre for Just Transition