[ad_1]
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: HT
Context: China has launched the world’s first commercial operations of a fourth-generation gas-cooled nuclear reactor power plant, the Shidao Bay plant in eastern Shandong province.
Unlike conventional reactors, this plant utilizes small modular reactors (SMRs), which are high-temperature reactors cooled by gas instead of pressurized water. SMRs are considered more efficient and cost-effective and can be employed for various applications such as heating, desalination, or steam for industrial purposes.
What are SMRs?
They are advanced nuclear reactors with a capacity of up to 300 MW per unit, offering advantages such as simplicity, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
- SMRs can be factory-made and transported to a site for installation.
- SMRs are economical and time-efficient, and unlike traditional reactors that require refuelling every 1-2 years, SMRs only need refuelling every 3-7 years.
The Indian Government is considering offering incentives, similar to a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, to encourage the manufacturing of small modular reactors (SMRs) with the goal of increasing nuclear power’s share in India’s energy production.
India has 22 operating reactors, with an installed capacity of 7480 MWe. India is currently in the second stage of its three-stage nuclear programme
[ad_2]