On October 12, 2021, Emmanuel Macron unveiled an ambitious five-year investment plan of 30 billion euros, which has been widely discussed in recent months, the renowned “France 2030” plan. It is designed to promote industrial competitiveness and future technologies in France. At the heart of this initiative are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), these small modular nuclear reactors that receive support from the French state.
What is a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) or Petit Réacteur Modulaire (PMR)?
The small modular reactor (PRM), also known by the abbreviation SMR (small modular reactor), is an innovative form of nuclear fission reactor. Unlike conventional reactors, it is smaller in size and power, designed in a factory, and then transported to the installation site. This approach reduces on-site work while increasing containment efficiency and the safety of nuclear materials.
SMRs are specifically designed to produce both electricity and heat, whether in remote areas or as a complement to existing large energy grids.
With a power output ranging from 10 to 300 MW, SMRs represent a more economical alternative or a complement to conventional nuclear reactors. They are particularly well-suited for providing electricity in isolated areas or on ships (similar to the technologies currently used in nuclear submarines). They can also be used for cogeneration or trigeneration applications, meaning the simultaneous production of heat, electricity, and mechanical power. SMRs have multiple potential uses, such as district heating, seawater desalination, hydrogen production, industrial heating, hydrocarbon refining, or the propulsion of civilian or military vessels.
How Do They Operate in Practice?
Their operating principle is similar to that of large 3rd generation nuclear reactors: nuclear fission (how does fission work?). This process splits atomic nuclei into smaller parts, thereby releasing an enormous amount of energy in the form of heat. In SMRs, this nuclear fission occurs in a reactor core, where uranium, or any other nuclear fuel, is bombarded by neutrons. The heat produced by this reaction is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine connected to an electrical generator. Thus, electricity is generated using a different energy source, namely nuclear fission.
What are the Advantages of SMRs?
Unlike large conventional nuclear reactors, SMRs are designed modularly, meaning they can be constructed from several independent modules. This approach offers increased flexibility and allows them to be adapted to various energy needs. As mentioned earlier, SMRs have an electrical output of less than 300 MW, compared to the several thousand MW of EPRs (latest generation nuclear reactors), which makes them particularly suitable for various applications, especially in remote areas or for providing backup power.
In terms of safety, SMRs surpass traditional nuclear power plants. Due to the use of more advanced monitoring and regulation technologies, the risks of accidents are significantly reduced. Furthermore, SMRs are passive, meaning they can cool themselves in an emergency, without requiring human intervention or external power supply. They are also designed to withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
From an economic standpoint, they are also more advantageous than traditional nuclear power plants due to their reduced size. They require less initial capital and present lower energy production costs. Due to mass production methods, they can be built in factories, leading to a significant reduction in construction and maintenance costs.
Furthermore, SMRs offer a competitive solution for energy production compared to other sources, such as coal, natural gas, and renewable energies. They also position themselves as a promising option for producing hydrogen, a rapidly expanding clean fuel for vehicles.
A Solution for Tomorrow?
SMRs already exist and are currently in use. By the end of 2018, they were being used by the military to equip their submarines and aircraft carriers, as well as by Russia for some icebreakers. Furthermore, about fifty SMR projects or concepts are currently under study or in development, such as the Otrera reactor, ranging from reduced versions of existing reactor models to innovative Generation IV designs, including both thermal neutron reactors and fast neutron reactors. Among the most active countries in this field are Russia and the United States, which are spearheading this promising research.
In summary, Small Modular Reactors are at the heart of an innovative and ambitious investment plan, aiming to shape a safer, more flexible, and more economically competitive energy future for France.
