SMR: Global Status andIAEA Activities
Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia
Study Panel 2023
20 June 2023
Dohee Hahn
SMR Platform Coordinator
Department of Nuclear Energy
International Atomic Energy Agency

Drivers and Status of Nuclear Power• Main drivers for maintaining and expanding the use of nuclear power
are Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Security• Status of nuclear power, 2021
– 19.5% of final energy consumed was electricity– Nuclear power accounted for 9.8% of total electricity production– Hydro and Solar/Wind produced 16% and 9%, respectively– 32 countries with operating nuclear power plants and about 30 countries
interested in nuclear power• Innovations can help nuclear energy meet many of the challenges
which are holding back its growth2

World Final Energy Consumption by Energy Source
IAEA RDS-1 2022

19.5% of final energy consumed was electricity in 2021. It is anticipated that theshare of electricity will continue to grow.
3World Electricity Production by Energy Source
IAEA RDS-1 2022

Among low carbon electricity sources, hydro, nuclear, and solar/wind, accountfor 16%, 9.8% and 9%, respectively.

4IAEA PRISWorldnuclear
electricity
production
in 2021

Share ofnuclear intotalelectricity
production
in 20215

New Nuclear Power Programmes

IAEA Nuclear Technology Review 2022
6Global GHG emissions from all sources
1970

60

1985

2000

2015

CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion, IEA, 2019

Total emissions (all sources)

Waste & other

Global GHG emissions (Gt CO2-eq)

50

Land use & forestry
Agriculture

Total energy emissions

40

Industrial processes

30

20

10066%

59%

11%

Industry

7%

Buildings

14%

Transport

12%

Other energy
industry

22%

Electricity generation

12%
1970

1985

2000

2015

66% of CO2 emissions are from energy sectors. Emissions from allsectors should be reduced for net zero.

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Nuclear Innovation• Nuclear Innovation is key to expanded role in theclean energy system– SMRs, Gen IV Energy Systems– Non-electric Applications– Integrated Energy Systems• Technical innovations should be developed,demonstrated and deployed in a timely manner tosecure opportunities of contribution to net zero emissions
and energy security
8Small Modular Reactors
Advanced Reactors that produce typically up to 300 MWe, built in factories
and transported as Modules to sites for Installation as demand arises.
Small: in size,
compared totraditional reactors.
Modular: factorymanufactured,installed onsite.
Reactor: energy
generation via nuclearfission.
9Key Attributes of SMRs
Economic• Lower Upfront capital cost• Economy of serial production

Enhanced
SafetyModularization• Multi-module• Modular Construction

Versatile

ModularFlexible Application• Remote regions• Small grids

Smaller footprint

ReducedWaste• Reduced Emergency
planning zone

Replacement for aging
fossil-fired plants
Affordable

Non-electric
applications

Potential HybridEnergy System

Better AffordabilityShorter construction time
Wider range of Users

Site flexibility
Reduced CO2 production
Integration with Renewables
10Categorization of Technologies
Land Based
WaterCooledReactors
HighTemperature
Gas-CooledReactors

SMR: Major
Lines ofTechnology
Molten SaltReactors

MarineBased
WaterCooledReactors

LiquidMetalcooled Fast
NeutronReactors

MicroReactors

11SMR for Non-Electric Applications
Very high temperature reactors

Gas-cooled fast reactors
Molten Salt reactors
Supercritical water-cooled reactors
Sodium-cooled fast reactors
Liquid metal cooled reactors
Water cooled reactors

100200300

400500

600

700

800

900100011001200(oC)District heating
Seawater desalination
Pulp & paper manufacture
Methanol production
Heavy oil desulfurization
Petroleum refining
Methane reforming hydrogen production
Thermochemical hydrogen production
Coal gasification
Blast furnace steel making

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Global SMR Technology Development

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Stage of Development and Deployment of SMRs

Source: Advancesin SMR Technology
Developments, 2022

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Status and Near-Term Prospect Deployment

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Member States’ Progress on SMR Projects
Argentina

CanadaCAREM

MMR

 2013: Construction license
 2014: Civil works started
o 2026: Grid connection
 2019: License to prepare site
initial applicationo 2027: Site preparation andconstruction

BWRX-300

 2021.12.20: Grid connection
 2022: Full power operation

ChinaFranceJapan

HTR-PMACP100

 2021: Down selected by OPG
 2022: OPG submittal ofapplication for construction
licence to CNSC for DNNP-1
 2021: FCD at Changjiang siteo 2026: Commercial operation

NUWARD 2022: Conceptual design completed
o 2023-2026: Basic designo By 2030: FCD

GTHTR300

 2003: Basic design completed based on the HTTR-30
o 2020s: HTTR-H2 test plant construction and operationo 2040s: Operation of demonstration plant16Member States’ Progress on SMR Projects- Cont’d
Republic of Korea

Russian FederationSwedenUKUSAi-SMR

KLT-40S

SEALER-55

Rolls-Royce
SMR

VOYGR

o 2023: Basic designo 2028: Standard design approval 2019.12: Grid connection inPevek
 2020.5: Started commercial
operation, 70 MWe

BREST-OD-300

 2021: Start of constructiono 2026: Start of operation of theFOAK pilot demo plant 2022: Electrically heated mock-up funded by the Swedish Energy Agency
o 2024: Electrical mock-up taken into operationo 2030: Nuclear demonstration unit taken into operation
 2022: Entered formal regulationo 2026: Project start of FOAK
constructiono 2030: FOAK commercial operation
 2020: Received SDAo 2023: Design certificationo 2023-2024: Start of constructiono 2029: Operation

SSR-UNatrium

o Q3-2023: Initial regulatory
assessmento Q4-2023: Preliminary Safety
Report completiono 2024: Application for construction
permito ~2030: Operation of demonstration
reactor17Challenges facing
Successful Deployment of novel SMR designs• Demonstration of Safety and Operating Performance• Secure Deployment: physical, cyber, transport security• Implementation of Safeguards• Demonstration of Economic Competitiveness– Economies of Serial Construction with robust Supply Chain• Harmonization of Licensing Framework for global
deployment• Electricity market reform for proper recognition of nuclear
energy as clean energy source• Robust and predictable financing framework
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IAEA Activities on SMRs
Technology Development andDeployment-TWG-SMR/GCR- ARIS Database- SMR Booklet

Technology Roadmaps- ‘Model’ technology roadmaps for
specific SMR projects- Hybrid Energy Systems with SMRs
- Hydrogen production using SMR
Economics- Economic Appraisal of SMR
Projects: Methodologies andApplicationsSafeguards-by-Design- Facilitation of safeguards
inspection early in reactor
design stage
Approaches to Commissioning
and Operation- Issues on the conduct of operation,
OLC and MCR for multi-unit plantFuel, Fuel cycle, Waste
Management andDecommissioning
Infrastructure Development- IAEA Milestones Approach
applicable to SMR- New deployment models
Safety & Security- SMR Regulators’ Forum- Applicability of the IAEA Safety
Standards & Security Guides
Industrial Harmonization andStandardization- Generic User Requirements- Industrial Codes & Standards
Reactor Technology Assessment- Updated Method incorporates SMR19

Technical Working Group on SMR• Members: 20 MSs and 4 International Organizations as observers
Members of TWG-SMR 2022-2025
ARG

BRZ

CAN

CPR

CZ

FRA

GHA

IND

IRN

ITA

JPN

JOR

ROK

MOR

PAKPHI

RFUKR

UKUSA

EC

WNA

ISONEA• Three technical subgroups SG-1: Update of SMR Technology Roadmap
 SG-2: R&D, Codes & Standards and Preparation for Operation
 SG-3: SMR Technology Deployment for Cogeneration

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IAEA SMR Platform• Serves as a focal point for the IAEA’sactivities on the field of small modular
reactors and their applications• Provides coordinated support andexpertise from across the entire
Agency, encompassing all aspects
relevant to the development, early
deployment, and oversight of small
modular reactors

https://smr.iaea.org
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Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative

Effective Global Deployment of
Safe and Secure Advanced
Nuclear Reactors

Harmonization ofRegulatory
Approaches Track• WG1: Framework for
information exchange• WG2: International prelicensing regulatory
reviews• WG3: Leveraging otherregulatory reviews

IAEA as facilitator
within and between the tracks

HarmonizationandStandardization ofIndustrial
Approaches Track• TG1: Harmonization ofhigh-level user
requirements• TG2: Common Approaches
to Codes and Standards• TG3: Experimental Testing
and Validation for Design
and Safety Analysis
Computer Codes• TG4: Acceleration ofnuclear infrastructure
implementation for SMR

Regulators

Governments

Technology
Holders

Operators andother end-users

International
Organisations
and Associations

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Upcoming Events
International Symposium on Floating Nuclear Power Plants
14-15 November 2023, Vienna International Centre

International Conference on Small Modular Reactors
and their Applications
21-25 October 2024, Vienna International Centre
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Thank you!