India is planning to set up 40 to 50 small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, primarily to replace existing captive thermal power plants. This initiative was revealed by, Amit Sharma Managing Director and CEO of Tata Consulting Engineers, who shared details with a news agency.
The 220-MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) is undergoing a major redesign using modern 3D design platforms. Sharma explained, “We are revisiting the original PHWR design to make it modular, scalable, and compliant with post-Fukushima safety standards.”
The redesigned reactors, dubbed Bharat Small Modular Reactors, are being developed in collaboration with the Department of Atomic Energy. The objective is to standardize the reactors for easy deployment, even in aging thermal power facilities in industries like cement, steel, aluminium, and copper.
Sharma highlighted that the goal is to construct 40-50 small modular reactors (SMRs) within the next seven to eight years, emphasizing the importance of standardization, safety, and modularity. The use of advanced 3D design technology is a significant upgrade from the methods used when these reactors were originally developed 40 years ago.
In a recent Union budget announcement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed the government’s intention to partner with the private sector to develop Bharat Small Modular Reactors and advance research in SMRs. This initiative is part of a broader push to develop more advanced nuclear energy technologies.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCI) has already built several reactors, including two 540-MWe, two 700-MWe, and sixteen 220-MWe PHWRs. By 2031-32, an additional 14 PHWRs with 700 MWe capacity each are expected to be operational, although they are currently at various stages of development.
Tata Consulting Engineers, which holds an 85% market share in nuclear engineering services, has been a key player in India’s nuclear power projects and has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Department of Atomic Energy. Sharma also noted that the Finance Minister’s mention of SMRs in her budget speech underscores the government’s strong commitment to energy transition.
Sharma added, “In the long term, nuclear energy is the only sustainable solution for achieving net-zero emissions. Globally, there is a growing recognition of this fact.” Unlike traditional nuclear reactors, SMRs can be manufactured in factories and generate up to 300 MWe of power. Their portability and adaptability make them suitable for locations that cannot accommodate larger reactors. As part of the global effort to combat climate change, SMRs are expected to play a critical role in the transition to cleaner energy.
