IAEA updates SMR guidance for newcomer countries

The updated version of Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power, the IAEA's foundational guidance on how to prepare to introduce a nuclear power programme or expand an existing nuclear power programme, includes an annex outlining aspects specific to the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). It also highlights the recent experience of several countries which have completed or made major progress with other reactor types using a three-phase Milestones Approach.

A major increase in nuclear power deployments is needed for the world to hit net zero carbon goals by 2050, and nuclear must scale up in existing markets as well as expanding to new ones, the IAEA said. Large water-cooled reactors are still expected to make up most of this new capacity, but there is a growing opportunity for SMRs to play an important role. Their size - typically less than 300 MWe - could make them ideal for deployment in remote areas and in regions with smaller electric grids, while their modular designs, with factory-assembled systems and components, could reduce construction times and speed deployment. They could also be attractive for new end users such as data centres and in decarbonising industrial applications.

SMRs are in many ways very similar to their larger counterparts, and have much in common with traditional power plants - such as the need for strong legal and regulatory frameworks, proactive stakeholder engagement and environmental protection considerations. But their unique features, including lower power output and simplified designs, mean some specific infrastructure requirements may vary, the IAEA said.

For example, some types of SMR, particularly those using coolants other than water, may generate new forms of radioactive waste, which countries planning to deploy SMRs must plan to manage. New fuel types will need the establishment of a supply chain to secure the consistent availability of fuel, while new safeguards approaches may need to be developed to address certain novel design features of SMRs.

There are currently around 30 newcomer countries either considering nuclear power or moving forward with plans to construct their first nuclear power plant, according to the IAEA, which adds that SMRs are under construction in Argentina as well as China and Russia - which have both already deployed their first SMRs - and several newcomer countries, including Estonia, Jordan and Poland, have identified SMRs as part of their future clean energy systems. An IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission focused on SMRs was conducted in Estonia last October, and Jordan is examining how SMRs could be used to address its seawater desalination needs after meeting with IAEA experts last August.

Milestones explained (Image: IAEA)

The Milestones Approach is a progressive, comprehensive method to help countries that are considering or planning their first nuclear power plant or seeking to expand an existing nuclear power programme to establish the infrastructure needed for a nuclear power programme. The approach splits the process into three phases, with a milestone marking a country's readiness to move on to the next phase. The United Arab Emirates, which connected its first nuclear unit to the grid in 2020, is an example of a country which followed the Milestones Approach in developing its nuclear programme.

This is the second revision of the IAEA's guidance, which was first published in 2015, and also incorporates lessons learned from recent INIR missions to countries introducing or expanding nuclear power programmes.

"As the nuclear power landscape continues to evolve, so too must the assistance we provide. This latest update of the IAEA milestones guidance comes at a pivotal moment when an increasing number of countries are considering nuclear power for their energy mix to achieve their net zero pledges," said Aline des Cloizeaux, Director of the IAEA's Division of Nuclear Power. "It is clear that SMRs will be a vital component of the clean energy transition, and we must ensure that countries interested in this technology have a solid understanding of what is needed to successfully implement SMR projects."

The IAEA will host the first International Conference on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications from 21 to 25 October in Vienna.