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There is a lot of interest in the development of microreactors because their deployment in the near future could support energy markets that are not available to large nuclear plants. A number of companies are working on building prototypes of commercial microreactors but there are some very significant challenges that must be overcome in order for them to capture new market shares. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE’s) Idaho National Laboratory recently published a technical report regarding the future of microreactors.
The report is titled Global Market Analysis of Microreactors. It focuses on future global microreactor markets and the potential for microreactors. The report assesses the unique capabilities and potential deployment in specific global markets in the period from 2030 to 2050. The one hundred- and forty-seven-page study summarizes work on the economics and market opportunities for microreactors that were conducted under the DoE’s Microreactor Program. The study utilizes “top down” and “bottom up” analysis techniques to evaluate emerging market trends. It derives a range of possible demands for microreactors and ranks potential markets in sixty-three countries. These countries include those currently employing nuclear power and other countries who are interested in exploring possible deployment of nuclear power in the near future.
Microreactors are a subset of small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs are nuclear power reactors that generate three hundred megawatts or less of electricity. Microreactors generate from one to twenty megawatts. They are sometimes called “nuclear batteries. The microreactor category includes light-water reactors, molten salt reactors, gas-cooled reactors, metal-cooled faster reactors and heat pipe reactors.
The report refers to studies of potential applications for microreactors in Alaska, Puerto Rico and U.S. federal facilities which were carried out as part of the DoE program during the period from 2019 to 2021. The studies referenced include:
• A study was undertaken by the University of Alaska at Anchorage to identify markets, applications and economic potential for nuclear-powered microreactors in Alaska and the Arctic. They also projected export potential for microreactors for remote locations around the world.
• The University of Wisconsin at Madison carried out a study to define the potential role for microreactors at U.S. government installations, at off grid or at remote sites which need secure, stand alone power and on-grid sites for secure backup power.
• A study was conducted by Puerto Rican-led not-for-profit organization Nuclear Alternative Project (NAP). This study was conducted under contract from the Idaho National Laboratory. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using SMRs and microreactors to provide resilient power for island territories such as Puerto Rico.
By 2030, initial deployment of such microreactors could possibly expand the contribution of nuclear power in North America and Western Europe. These areas would otherwise show little future growth in nuclear power, according to the DoE report. Mid-term deployments could begin around 2035 with expansion in Eastern Europe and Asia. In these areas, energy infrastructures are currently under deployment. Microreactors could support new nuclear markets in emerging economies. Longer term deployment during the period from 2040 to 2050 could be in urban markets and megacities which lack access to energy and are susceptible to climate change disaster relief by replacing portable diesel generators and in low-carbon shipping.
Please read Part 2 next