In line with its synthetic nature, the present report starts with introducing the definitions (Chapter 2), providing a brief characterisation of SMRs available for deployment (Chapter 3), and introducing in more detail the design concepts of advanced SMRs belonging to the different technology lines (Chapter 4):

• pressurised water reactors (PWRs);

• boiling water reactors (BWRs);

• advanced heavy water reactors (HWRs);

• high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs) and

• sodium cooled fast reactors; and

• lead-bismuth cooled fast reactors.

Reflecting the public interest in the emerging US small and modular reactor designs, a dedicated Chapter 5 lists and analyses the design attributes of small modular reactors developed in the United States and elsewhere in the world

Chapter 6 brings into focus the various factors affecting the economic characteristics of SMRs. Numerical examples of how each of these factors, as well as their combinations, could act on the levelised unit electricity cost (LUEC) of a SMR-based plant, are provided, and the results are compared to large reactors. In addition to this, Section 6.5 touches upon the impact of co-generation and non-electrical applications on plant costs.

Section 7.1 presents the results of independent LUEC estimates performed for the selected NPP configurations with SMRs. Of the total, estimates were performed for 12 plant configurations with 8 “model” SMR designs (within the unit power range from 7.9 to 335 MWe) based on certain advanced SMR projects with significant deployment potential in the period 2010-2020.

The estimates started from published cost data for NPPs with large reactors, mostly in the construction phase or already built, and used the cost scaling law methodology together with the various correction factors described in detail in Chapter 6, to arrive at an independent LUEC value for a certain plant configuration with SMRs. The impact of the heat credit and the uncertainty ranges of the LUEC estimates were defined, and the results were then compared to the designers’ cost data (discounted to the year 2009).

In Section 7.2, the independent LUEC estimates obtained in Section 7.1 were used to evaluate the competitiveness of SMRs in the electricity and combined electricity and heat markets of several countries. The countries addressed included Brazil, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States for electricity, and China, the Russian Federation, and the United States for combined electricity and heat generation. For the evaluations, the LUEC estimates for the various plant configurations with SMRs were compared to the projected costs of generating electricity in 2010 (reference [1.2]) using large NPPs, coal-fired plants, gas-fired plants, and renewable energy plants, including hydroelectric plants, wind plants, etc.

In Section 7.2.6, the potential of SMRs to compete in the niche markets (not suitable for NPPs with large reactors) of the Russian Federation, Canada, and the United States was evaluated using the data on electricity tariffs in the remote off-grid or local grid locations in these countries. In the evaluations, LUEC estimates for the NPP configurations with SMRs from Section 7.1 were compared to the electricity tariffs in selected locations.

Chapter 8 provides the description and summary of SMR safety designs. First, in Sections 8.1-8.7, safety designs are presented and summarised for each of the SMRs, each of the distinct SMR design groups, and each of the technology lines. Section 8.8 provides a general summary and conclusions on the SMR safety designs for internal events and external events. It also touches upon the important topics of use of passive versus active safety systems and outlines how the safety design is related to plant economics.

Chapter 9 examines licensing process for the advanced SMR projects, touching upon compliance with the current national regulations and international standards, possible delays and regulatory issues, reduced off-site emergency planning requirements, and new regulatory approaches. This section also includes a summary table of the SMR licensing status late in 2010.

Chapter 10 presents the major findings and conclusions of the present report and includes recommendations on further research in the areas that require further clarification.

The report includes three Appendices with reference data. Appendix 1 provides structured tables with design specifications for each of the SMRs addressed. In Appendix 2, structured summaries of safety design features for SMRs are given. In Appendix 3, additional data on the economics of SMRs is presented.

This report and its economic study was prepared to enable discussion and further analysis among a broad range of stakeholders, including decision-makers, public and private investors, energy economists, regulators and reactor vendors.

References

[1.1] IAEA, Power reactor information system (PRIS): www. iaea. org/programmes/a2/

[1.2] IEA/NEA (2010), Projected Costs for Generating Electricity: 2010 Edition, OECD, Paris, Tables 3.7(a-e), pp. 59-63.