Deployment of Small Modular Reactors

Small reactors, i.e. reactors with a power less or equal to 300 MWe, have been developed for decades in parallel with the development of large nuclear reactors. Today, small modular reactors (SMRs) are considered by several countries, including European Union (EU) countries, to be used for expansion of their energy programme or for replacement of old coal plants not to mention other applications of SMRs. Some regulatory authorities already received first applications for licence of such facilities. The article provides a list of the advantages of SMRs, a brief historical overview on SMRs and identifies only few designs which are in a very advanced stage in 2019, e.g. CAREM-25, KLT-40S, RITM-200, HTR-PM and ACP-100. Licensing issues related to specifics of SMRs include among others new passive systems, new emergency zoning and staffing of a control room. The article gives a brief up-to-date overview of international activities in particular those which are applicable for EU countries. An overview of current situation, i. e. in 2019, is given. The needed regulatory framework for successful deployment of SMRs to be applicable for countries with relatively small nuclear programme is discussed.