Report explores feasibility of small modular reactors

A recent report from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) has investigated the feasibility of incorporating small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) into Australia’s energy mix. The organisation has said it supports a technology-neutral approach to the energy transition, requiring that all options are considered on their merits.

ATSE underlined that, given the current dearth of reliable, publicly verifiable information about operational full-scale prototype SMRs around the world, SMR technology is yet to be proven technically and financially.

With coal-fired power stations being retired and an urgent need for mature, low-carbon technologies to fill the energy supply gap, the time it will take to establish a mature SMR market, including appropriate legislative and regulatory settings, means that it won’t be possible to fill the gap with SMR technology this decade, the report found.

The report noted several significant obstacles that would need to be cleared before a nuclear energy industry in Australia can be considered. First, federal and state moratoria on nuclear power would need to be lifted. A national nuclear regulator would then have to be established, and an appropriately skilled workforce be grown. In addition, SMRs will not succeed without broad social acceptance of the technology over their entire life cycle.

The least risky option, ATSE determined, would be for Australia to procure SMRs once several models have been established and are proven and operational in other OECD countries.

ATSE President Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO FTSE said that from a technology and engineering perspective, SMRs could form part of the future energy mix for Australia; however, this is unlikely until a market is fully formed, which would be likely in the mid to late 2040s.

“SMR technology could provide low-carbon energy compatible with Australia’s current electricity system; however, as an emerging technology, there is considerable uncertainty around commercial viability and some of these potential benefits,” Woodthorpe said.

“Overall, the associated timescales, expense, skills gap, legal and regulatory barriers, and social acceptance of nuclear power means the technology is high risk when compared to existing energy options.”

Woodthorpe said that sourcing a prototype SMR — as opposed to waiting for the market to develop — was an even higher-risk proposition for both technical and commercial reasons. 

“Non-partisan analysis is required to objectively examine technology readiness and the role of nuclear technology in the long term,” she said. “However, this should not detract from the rapid deployment of renewable technologies that are ready and available here and now.”

To read the report, click here.

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