India Accelerates SMR Development with Private Sector
By Business Desk
India’s DAE is boosting private sector involvement in Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development, aiming for 100 GWe by 2047 through indigenous manufacturing and R&D.
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is actively involving Indian industries to develop nuclear vendors for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), providing crucial knowledge sharing and technological support. This initiative aims to significantly boost private sector participation across nuclear manufacturing, engineering services, research and development, and supply chains.
Strengthening Indigenous Capabilities
Minister of State Jitendra Singh confirmed that critical equipment is already being developed domestically. This includes:
- Low-alloy steel forgings for reactor pressure vessels.
- Reactivity-control drive mechanisms.
India’s Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), unveiled in the Union Budget 2025-26, sets an ambitious target for future energy production. The nation aims to reach 100 GWe by 2047.
To accelerate this capacity growth, India is deploying large reactors, such as indigenous 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) at greenfield sites.
Strategic Deployment of SMRs
Concurrently, SMRs are being developed and deployed strategically across the country. Their applications are diverse and critical for energy needs.
- Repurposing retiring fossil fuel-based power plants at brownfield sites.
- Providing captive energy for energy-intensive industries.
- Serving off-grid applications in remote locations.
India’s goal is to develop and operationalize at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033.
Pioneering Reactor Designs
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) leads the design and development of multiple SMR types. These designs cater to varying power requirements and applications.
- The 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor.
- A 55 MWe SMR.
- A high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGCR) with a capacity of up to 5 MWth for hydrogen production.
Separately, the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), a DAE constituent unit, is piloting the second stage of India’s nuclear power programme. This involves advanced engineering and scientific research for sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors (FBRs) and associated closed fuel-cycle facilities.