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Next-Generation Small Reactors—Designs, Deployment, Regulation and Impacts

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2023) | Viewed by 13014

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Akira Tokuhiro

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Guest Editor

Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada
Interests: nuclear reactor design and analyses; energy systems; methods development; dynamic modeling of complex socio-technico-economic phenomena (climate change, energy geopolitics, etc.); thermal fluid experimentation and simulations; engineering education; safety culture and social license

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

I invite you to submit a publication to the Energies Special Issue “Next-Generation Small Reactors—Designs, Deployment, Regulation and Impacts”.

The ongoing debates and advocacy regarding the relevance of the worldwide fleet of existing and new plant deployment are, these days, at geopolitical levels and within the context of climate change and sustainability. The current human development index cannot be maintained nor improved without scaled use of nuclear power. Yet, regulatory constraints and challenges associated with social acceptance of nuclear power persist. Here, we seek papers as part of a worthy collection addressing numerous aspects of the “next-generation small reactor challenge”. The Special Issue assumes that timely and successful deployment is ultimately the goal. We are particularly interested in papers that are “data-driven” and consider both “hard and soft” topics in relation to small reactors. This issue will feature results that emphasize innovation, the potential for “disruption” and partial-to-fully data-driven aspects, including the following:

Design and analyses in support of deployment, regulation, and tangible impact;
Aspects of the application and utility of small reactors and interface with developments in mobility;
Aspects of the applications and utility of small reactors and interface with other energy or industrial processes;
Aspects of investment, regulatory approval, siting, and deployment/construction;
Aspects of the role of nuclear energy in sustainability and impact on climate change.

I welcome and encourage authors to address one or more of these interrelated aspects, which will be of value to readers.

Prof. Dr. Akira Tokuhiro
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Papers are encouraged to encompass as many of the data-driven aspects of the noted keywords as practical:

small reactors
nuclear plant design
deployment
construction
applications
regulation
regulatory strategy
social license/public acceptance
investment
advance manufacturing
climate change
sustainability
data-driven
innovation
disruption
systems
hybrid systems
analysis

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3516 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Planning and Evaluation of Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Penetration for Marine and Waterfront Applications

by Hossam A. Gabbar and Otavio Lopes Alves Esteves

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5329; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145329 - 12 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1059

Abstract

The global trade and transportation sectors heavily rely on the maritime industry. Still, its dependence on fossil energy sources poses significant environmental challenges and leads to unstable fuel prices that affect the cost of goods transported by sea. This paper aims to evaluate the viability of seaports as energy-intensive entities and explore the feasibility of implementing a Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy System (NRHES). The study presents a case study of the Tanjung Priok Port in Indonesia, focusing on estimating energy consumption, emissions, and the potential impact of carbon taxation on seaport operations. By quantifying these factors, the research provides insights into the energy requirements, environmental effects, and potential costs associated with seaport carbon taxation. A comprehensive analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of implementing an NRHES in the seaport case study is conducted, determining the optimal sizing and composition of components, considering the proportion of nuclear and renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the economic analysis takes into account energy expenses, net present value, cash flow, return on investment, and internal rate of return. The objective of these findings is to provide decision-makers with insights into the advantages and obstacles associated with implementing an NRHES, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future for the maritime sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Small Reactors—Designs, Deployment, Regulation and Impacts)

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19 pages, 1447 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Small Modular Reactor Deployment and Obstacles to Be Overcome

by Elaheh Shobeiri, Filippo Genco, Daniel Hoornweg and Akira Tokuhiro

Energies 2023, 16(8), 3468; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083468 - 15 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4539

Abstract

To meet climate policy goals, it will be necessary to deploy a series of low-carbon energy technologies, including nuclear power. The small modular reactor (SMR) can potentially support climate change mitigation and energy security issues. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are gaining popularity; however, one crucial debate is whether SMRs can compete economically with conventional nuclear reactors or not. From a commercial point of view, SMRs will be able to provide process heat in various industrial applications, replace older nuclear, natural gas, and coal power facilities, and serve smaller energy markets with less established infrastructure. Realizing these advantages would rely heavily on the near-term quick up-scaling of SMRs; this paper, then, examines and identifies some of the most hindering constraints and barriers for the quick deployment of SMR such as the technology choice, licensing, economy of scale and financing, public acceptance, supply chain, and proliferation. A clear identification of the evident and more hidden bottlenecks preventing a quick deployment is made putting in evidence areas in need of much deeper analysis than the one conducted by the SMR community so far. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Small Reactors—Designs, Deployment, Regulation and Impacts)

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16 pages, 1466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Small Nuclear Reactor—Nordic District Heating Case Study

by Antti Teräsvirta, Sanna Syri and Pauli Hiltunen

Energies 2020, 13(15), 3782; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153782 - 23 Jul 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4409

Abstract

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been recognized to have potential in decarbonizing district heating, which is currently an urgent sustainability challenge in many European countries. In this paper, the financial impacts of replacing peat and biomass-powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants with heat-only reactors of 24–200 MW power range and maximum output temperatures of 120 °C are studied. A district heating system of a medium-sized Nordic city in Eastern Finland is modeled with EnergyPRO computer software (EMD International A/S, Aalborg, Denmark), which is used to optimize plant units’ production for cost effectiveness. A future scenario is used to predict electricity prices, expenditures from CO₂ emission allowances, and fuel prices for the studied case. Results show that the low operating expenditures of CO₂ free heat-only reactors would compensate for the revenue losses from electricity sales and that a small number of micro reactors, with power output in the tens of megawatts range each, would be optimal for the studied case. Since investment cost estimates for SMRs still bear significant uncertainties, the subject should be followed in further studies, as heat-only SMRs could provide a profitable alternative for current CHP production in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Small Reactors—Designs, Deployment, Regulation and Impacts)

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Review

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15 pages, 5008 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bibliometric Review and Technical Summary of PWR Small Modular Reactors

by Pablo Fernández-Arias, Diego Vergara and Álvaro Antón-Sancho

Energies 2023, 16(13), 5168; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16135168 - 5 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2057

Abstract

Given the real problem of climate change and the consequent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear energy can be considered a real technological option in the absence of a technology that can supply the population with sufficient electrical energy in a sustainable way. The research and development advances of new nuclear reactor designs are evident in the case of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Two goals are clear in such a technology: (i) reducing onsite construction costs and time; (ii) promoting economic efficiency through the mass production of nuclear reactors. In view of the interest generated by this technology, a technical summary of PWR-SMR design is included in this paper, utilizing the scientific method based on: (i) a bibliometric review of scientific publications related to SMRs; and (ii) a technical analysis of aspects of the different PWR-SMR designs. The results obtained in the present research show a growing interest on the part of the scientific community in research on PWR reactors integrated within SMR designs. Few countries are doing research in this area; however, those that are doing so have achieved greater technological advances in their designs, resulting in greater technological variety and a higher degree of maturity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Small Reactors—Designs, Deployment, Regulation and Impacts)

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