Identifying the Key Development Areas for Small Modular Reactors

Abstract

In paper considered Small Modular Reactors (SMR) main advantages of design such as: In paper considered possible areas of SMR application, including consumer demands, which are as follows: power supply of remote (Arctic) territories, replacement (renovation) of old coal generation, production of high"potential heat and hydrogen for industrial consumers and other applications. The necessity of development and implementation of a new technological platform for nuclear energy based on SMRs is shown in order to implement the global decarbonization of the world economy by means of significant expansion of nuclear energy technologies application. This technological platform should be developed in addition to the currently developing one based on the closed nuclear fuel cycle with fast reactors (solving the problem of fuel supply and waste disposal) and also developing technological platform of controlled thermonuclear fusion(solving the problem of global energy supply in the long term). The new technological platform should be created on the bases of broad international cooperation with creation of international consortiums. An experimental testing facility (research reactor)is proposed to be created for the development of captive hydrogen (heat)production technologies for industrial consumers as well as other technologies for the application of small modular reactors.