Background
What are SMRs?
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. SMRs, which can produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity, are:
Small – physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor.
Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation.
Reactors – harnessing nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.
Learn more about nuclear fission and energy.
Australian context
What are SMRs not discussed in Australia?
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. SMRs, which can produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity, are:
Small – physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor.
Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation.
Reactors – harnessing nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.
Learn more about nuclear fission and energy.
Advantages
Advantages of SMRs?
Many of the benefits of SMRs are inherently linked to the nature of their design – small and modular. Given their smaller footprint, SMRs can be sited on locations not suitable for larger nuclear power plants. Prefabricated units of SMRs can be manufactured and then shipped and installed on site, making them more affordable to build than large power reactors, which are often custom designed for a particular location, sometimes leading to construction delays. SMRs offer savings in cost and construction time, and they can be deployed incrementally to match increasing energy demand.
Sustainability
SMRs and sustainable development
SMRs and nuclear power plants offer unique attributes in terms of efficiency, economics and flexibility. While nuclear reactors provide dispatchable sources of energy – they can adjust output accordingly to electricity demand – some renewables, such as wind and solar, are variable energy sources that depend on the weather and time of day. SMRs could be paired with and increase the efficiency of renewable sources in a hybrid energy system. These characteristics position SMRs to play a key role in the clean energy transition, while also helping countries address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Efforts to achieve the target of universal access to energy, SDG 7, has made visible progress; however, gaps are still prevalent, mainly concentrated in remote and rural regions. As global efforts seek to implement clean and innovative solutions, the increased use of renewable energy coupled with the introduction of SMRs has the potential to fill such gaps.
Find out how nuclear can replace coal as part of the clean energy transition.
About Us
The SMR Australia Charter
We can’t keep hiding from the reality that whilst we transition away from coal to generate base load power and accept that renewables are part of the solution, renewables alone will not lower electricity prices for families and businesses, let alone deliver the electricity demands consistently, that we’ll need into the future.
Our goal is to simplify the solution.
But to also question “…why are we not discussing SMRs in Australia as part of a hybrid solution?”
It makes no sense spending billions of tax payer money to subsidise renewables and not accept that there are more than 80 commercial SMR designs being developed around the world with various applications: electricity, hybrid energy systems, heating, water desalinisation and steam for industrial applications.
In our view, international collaboration is the key to bringing SMRs to fruition and delivering sustainable, clean, consistent and reasonably priced electricity to Australian consumers.
Just some of our partners
Status
Global status of SMRs?
Both public and private institutions globally are actively participating in efforts to bring SMR technology to fruition within this decade.
More than 80 commercial SMR designs being developed around the world target varied outputs and different applications, such as electricity, hybrid energy systems, heating, water desalinisation and steam for industrial applications.
Whilst SMRs have lower upfront capital cost per unit, governments are still assessing the economic competitiveness of key technologies.
So what is the best solution for Australia? We won’t know unless we at least have the conversation. Read how international collaboration will help bring SMRs, including microreactors, to fruition.
Global Governance
The role of the International Atomic Energy Agency
The IAEA has established the Platform on SMRs and their Applications, a one-stop shop for countries to coordinate support related to all aspects of SMR development, deployment, oversight and their electric and non-electric applications, such as use in district heating and desalination systems.
The IAEA is assessing the level to which existing IAEA safety standards can be applied to innovative technologies. The IAEA expects to publish a Safety Report on the applicability of IAEA safety standards to SMR technologies in 2022.
The IAEA’s Technical Working Group on Small and Medium Sized or Modular Reactors (TWG-SMR) and the SMR Regulators' Forum unites experts to discuss challenges and share experiences related to the development and future deployment of SMRs.
The IAEA fosters sustainable nuclear energy development. The IAEA hosts technical meetings, produces scientific and technical publications and facilitates coordinated research projects.
Read a whole bunch of quality articles on SMRs on our Benefits Page
Nuclear Power Is Our Best Hope to Ditch Fossil Fuels | Isabelle Boemeke | TED
Nuclear power is one of the safest, cleanest forms of energy -- yet to most people, it might not feel that way. Why is that? Isabelle Boemeke, the world's first nuclear energy influencer and creator of the social media persona Isodope, deftly debunks the major objections to nuclear power and explains her unconventional way of educating people about this clean energy source.
How fear of nuclear power is hurting the environment | Michael Shellenberger
"We're not in a clean energy revolution; we're in a clean energy crisis," says climate policy expert Michael Shellenberger. His surprising solution: nuclear. In this passionate talk, he explains why it's time to overcome longstanding fears of the technology, and why he and other environmentalists believe it's past time to embrace nuclear as a viable and desirable source of clean power.
Thorium, an alternative nuclear fuel
Kirk Sorensen shows us the liquid fuel thorium reactor -- a way to produce energy that is safer, cleaner and more efficient than current nuclear power.