Opportunities, challenges and strategies for innovative SMRs incorporating non-electrical applications

In the near term, most new nuclear power plants (NPPs) are likely to be evolutionary water cooled reactor designs building on proven systems while incorporating technological advances and often the economics of scale, resulting from the reactor outputs of up to 1600 MW(e). For the longer term, the focus is on innovative designs aiming to provide increased benefits in the areas of safety and security, non-proliferation, waste management, resource utilization and economy, as well as to offer a variety of energy products and flexibility in design, siting and fuel cycle options. This paper discusses the salient aspects including safety, economics and proliferation resistance of innovative small and medium sized reactors (SMRs) currently under consideration or in design/ development stage in a number of Member States. Some small reactors without on-site refuelling have also been looked in to.The opportunities and challenges to the innovative SMRs are outlined. Progress towards near deployment of some of the SMRs and their use for non-electric applications has been presented. (author)