Small modular reactor technology for industrial heat and power: selection techniques and implementation strategies for real-world use cases using systems-based approaches.

Abstract

The potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) has been recognized as an emerging technology that could play a key role in climate change mitigation and achieving net zero 2050 climate goals. The technology behind SMRs is known and proven in many cases but has yet to be deployed commercially.

SMR technological innovation is advancing in several countries around the world, from Gen-III+ light water SMRs, to Gen-IV SMRs and micro-reactors. All at various stages of development, from an early conceptual phase to operational deployment and commercialization. These SMRs are also being developed in multiple configurations, being land, or marine based and coming in single or multimodule (and scalable configurations) with a wide range of heat and power generation capabilities.

In the U.S., several of these technologies are supported by recent funding from legislation that supports a variety of energy policies to advance decarbonization goals in electricity and hard to abate industries, where the potential for renewables is limited. SMRs have attributes related to safety, flexibility, footprint, and waste management that give them opportunities not seen by traditional nuclear.

In North America and Europe there are over 15 SMR designers working on designs ranging from 4 MWe to nearly 350 MWe (500 MWe with thermal storage) and generating heat in a range of 300-750 °C. These SMRs seek to fill a variety of industrial use cases ranging from district heating to fossil fuel replacement for on-grid power, to replacement of fossil fuel cogeneration with high heat requirements.

This thesis addresses the overarching question of how to select which SMR designer and technology is most likely to be successful for various industrial use cases by answering the following sub-questions:

1. What First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) SMR designs currently in development are most likely to be deployed and commercialized in the United States over the next decade?

2. Of the many hard to abate sectors, what are the potential industrial use cases for SMRs and what is the cost and competitiveness of SMRs in these areas relative to existing energy systems?

3. Based on the findings of 1. and 2. above, which SMR designs are best suited for the identified industrial uses cases in the United States?

4. Can these best suited SMR designs be competitive with existing technologies (footprint, siting, capital cost, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE)?