The Adani Group is reportedly in talks with the Uttar Pradesh government on a public-private partnership to build small modular reactors (SMRs) as India opens its nuclear energy sector to private investment.

It plans to build eight Small Modular Reactors (SMR) with a capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) each at yet-to-be-identified sites in the state. A potential deal would give the Adani conglomerate a total of 1.6 GW of nuclear capacity with SMRs and could place the private firm at the forefront of India’s nuclear development.

India’s nuclear sector is opening to private players, with major firms like Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Adani Power, Hindalco, JSW Energy, and Jindal Steel & Power expressing interest in developing SMRs under the “Bharat SMR” initiative, following recent legislative changes enabling private investment in nuclear power for the first time, aiming to boost capacity and innovation

SMR technology is an ideal solution for India’s diverse and remote energy needs. India has an ambitious target to increase its nuclear energy capacity to 100 GW by 2047, a goal that relies on both large-capacity reactors and the faster deployment of SMRs.

Earlier this year, a panel set up by India’s power ministry said in a report that meeting the 100 GW target by 2047, up from just 8.8 GW now, would require as much as 19.28 trillion Indian rupees, or $214 billion at current exchange rates, in cumulative capital.

The PM Modi government plans to immediately spend as much as $2.23 billion (200 billion Indian rupees) on SMR research and development.

India has previously been in talks with the US, Russia, and France regarding SMR technology cooperation. Indian government agencies alone will never be able to reach the nuclear power targets.

India now wants to tap the private sector, which has abundant capital and inherent efficiency in timely construction and the adaptation of innovations. A public-private partnership with Adani would give the conglomerate an early-mover status in India’s new nuclear power industry.

Imagine if a steel mill in Jharkhand, a data centre in Bengaluru, and an industrial park in Gujarat were all powered by backyard nuclear plants of their own? It is important to understand the SMR operational potential.

Small Nuclear Power Reactors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines “small” with a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.

“Modular” enables systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation. “Reactors” harness nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.

700 MWe is termed “medium”. Small, portable nuclear power reactors are required both for military and civilian use in remote locations. There are also very small units, which are about 15 MWe, especially for remote communities.

While small reactors require special technologies, they are less cost-intensive, especially for transmission. Initial experience came from nuclear-powered submarines. Greater demand for SMRs would also mean economies of scale.

Four types of small reactors that are evolving include light water reactors, fast neutron reactors, graphite-moderated high temperature reactors, and a few types of molten salt reactors.

In the end, what matters is the smaller size, low technology risk, inherent safety, and longer unrefuelled operations. Smaller reactors also require much less real estate. Another advantage of small reactors is the much smaller safety zone radius. They use low-enriched uranium (LEU), and require much lesser cooling water. They also produce lower radioactivity. Lower investment and siting costs make them more attractive, even for captive corporate use.

Decommissioning of such plants is much simpler. Yes, certification and licensing have issues. These reactors will also be well-suited for very small countries or island nations. Arctic regions are also contenders for SMR.

SMRs can be fabricated at a plant and then moved to the installation site. This saves time and on-site activity. Also, the overall cost is much lower because of standardization and production scale.

Modularity and commonality in design also hasten licensing. Additional modules can be added if the power requirement needs to be scaled up. The reverse could be true in the case of a demand scale-down. A smaller reactor also reduces safety concerns and makes containment in case of an accident easier.

SMRs also have a greater variety of cooling options. In the case of SMR, the thermal energy can be used directly, without conversion, such as heating water.

Most SMRs can run without much supervision. Many SMRs have higher fuel burn-up, reducing waste. The initial setup cost of the SMR manufacturing plants is fairly high; therefore, to reduce the amortized cost, it may be necessary to produce around 50 or more SMRs.

Nuclear proliferation risk remains a concern for SMRs.  Significantly reduced staffing levels reduce physical protection and, therefore, increase security concerns.

Countries Working on SMR

In the US, Westinghouse, Babcock & Wilcox, Holtec, and NuScale Power are some of the major players. China has some of the most advanced SMRs.

China is also developing small district-level heating reactors of 100 to 200 MWt capacities to replace coal-based heating plants in the northern parts. India’s 220 MWe pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) are also SMRs.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is offering both 220 and 540 MWe versions internationally. Chinese 300-325 MWe PWR at Chashma in Pakistan, (called CNP-300), is an SMR. The UK, Canada, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, and South Africa are also other players.

Early Small Nuclear Reactors For Submarines

The design, development, and production of nuclear marine propulsion plants started in the United States in the 1940s. The United States and the Soviet Union have had nuclear-powered submarines since the early 1950s.

The nuclear submarine is powered by a small nuclear reactor. Nuclear propulsion, being independent of air, frees nuclear submarines from the need to surface frequently, as diesel-electric-powered submarines do. The much more efficient power generation allows higher speeds.

The submarine may not be refuelled for its entire operational life, typically around 25 years. Interestingly, even with the most advanced electric batteries, a modern conventional diesel submarine may remain submerged for a few days at slow speed, and only a few hours at top speed. Marine-type reactors differ from land-based commercial electric power reactors in several respects.

Nuclear-Powered Ships & Vessels

Only the United States and France built nuclear aircraft carriers. The Soviet Union had a heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser.

The United States Navy (USN) also built similar cruisers, but all were retired before the year 2000. Russia has a nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle. In the 1960s, the US built a few experimental nuclear-powered civil merchant ships, but did not pursue them as they were too small and uneconomical to operate.

The 1988-built Russian vessel “Sevmorput” is one of only four nuclear-powered merchant ships ever built. After refurbishment in 2016, it is currently the only one in service worldwide and operates on the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route (NSR).

It serves as a container and LASH (lighter aboard ship) carrier, delivering cargo like equipment and supplies to remote Russian Arctic regions and the Far East. The Soviet Union, and now Russia, has used nuclear-powered icebreaker ships since the late 1950s. A few are still in service, and more are being built.

The high cost of nuclear technology and maintenance means that very few military powers can afford nuclear submarines or ships. The only six countries with nuclear submarines are the USA, Russia, China, the UK, France, and India.

In 2020, the Pentagon issued contracts for mobile, small nuclear reactors that will provide nuclear power for American forces at home and abroad.

Mini Nuclear Plants For Military

For a long time, the U.S. Army has been using mobile and static small reactors to power remote air/missile defence radar stations in Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica, and to provide electricity and heating. Mini Nuclear Power Plants (MNPP) would be portable and operate unrefuelled for 10-20 years.

Mobile SMRs would be ideal for rapid response scenarios. These would also be handy during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations. The smaller ones could generate below 10 MWe for at least three years without refuelling, and weigh less than 40 tons and have a volume small enough to move on a truck, ship, or C-17 aircraft.

US DoD’s “Project Pele” is on track for full-power outdoor testing of a prototype mobile reactor and for electricity production at Idaho National Lab (INL) for testing. The aim is for field deliveries by 2028. The project was also listed as relevant to lunar and Mars surface operations.

During the Soviet Union, Pamir-630D truck-mounted small air-cooled 0.6 MWe nuclear reactors were built. These were discontinued later. Russia now has small transportable 2.5 MWe nuclear reactors. Russia is also developing small mobile nuclear power plants for the military in the Arctic, to be air-transportable by IL-76 aircraft and Mi-26 helicopters.

Super small radioisotope thermoelectric generators were considered the answer. NASA reportedly uses some of these to power satellites and other spacecraft. In 2020 Pentagon awarded three contracts for mobile small nuclear reactors.

In the 2-10 MWe range, small reactors were to be available by 2024. They could be deployable by 2027. Security during the move of the reactor would have to be very high.

Civil Applications for SMRs

SMRs are well-suited for remote areas, off-grid industrial sites, or for supplementing existing grids, unlike large conventional reactors. They are becoming much safer. Many designs use natural forces (like gravity) for shutdown and cooling, reducing reliance on external power. They are scalable and can be added incrementally as energy demand grows.

They are versatile, and provide electricity, process heat for industry (steel, hydrogen), and potentially desalinate water.  They will be good for remote communities and will power isolated towns and islands. They support industrial decarbonisation by supplying low-carbon energy to energy-intensive industries (mining, steel, chemicals). They give grid support by balancing variable renewable energy sources. They can power desalination plants.

Over 80 designs are in development globally, with some already operational or nearing operation. Countries like India are heavily investing, planning significant deployments by the 2030s to meet clean energy goals. While promising, challenges include financing large-scale manufacturing and navigating evolving regulatory frameworks.

Nuclear Propulsion For Satellites

Nuclear power is being used in space for electricity and heat generation in extreme cold temperatures. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators have been used in long-distance space probes and on crewed lunar missions.

Both the USA and USSR sent many nuclear-electric satellites into space. The more powerful TOPAZ-II reactor could produce 10 kilowatts of electricity.

Nuclear power for space propulsion systems using ion thrusters greatly reduces satellite size and the number of alternative payload options. Also, propulsion is required to regain the drifted satellite’s position or to avoid collisions. New systems are under development.

Russia & China’s Ambitious Reactor On The Moon

In 2024, Russia and China announced plans to team up to build a nuclear power station on the lunar surface. The primary motivation behind this project is to provide a reliable power source for future lunar bases.

A plan led by Rosatom will position an SMR on the Moon capable of generating up to half a megawatt of energy, sufficient for most scientific apparatus operating on the Moon and for a small human accommodation.

It will be used for many activities, has a long lifespan, and operates even when there is no solar energy on the dark side of the moon for nearly half the month.

China plans to launch three Chang’e space missions to test mandatory technologies for establishing a robotic base for remote experiments.

The first mission is planned for 2026, with project completion expected by 2028. It could then be a precursor to establishing human habitation in a few decades.

Currently, Russia plans to deploy the reactor on the moon by 2036. A nuclear reactor will be the first step for a space base. Russia has invited India to join this program. India plans to have its own Moon base by 2035.

US Space Base Plan

The USA has an independent space-based program. In 2028, NASA plans to launch the Lunar Surface Asset, a small habitat to the Moon’s surface, either on an SLS Block 1B or via an Artemis Support Mission on a commercial launcher.

This would be the first crewed lunar base. The Artemis program crewed spaceflight program will be carried out predominantly by NASA, U.S. commercial spaceflight companies, and international partners such as the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan’s JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to land “the first woman and the next man” on the Moon, specifically at the lunar south pole region by 2026.

NASA sees Artemis as the next step towards the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, laying the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy, and eventually sending humans to Mars.

The US-led Artemis Program has scheduled several crewed landings, starting with Artemis 3, tentatively planned for 2026, and thereafter setting up five temporary base camps with the Human Landing Systems (HLS) until Artemis 8 is planned to set up the fixed Foundational Surface Habitat (FSH) of the Artemis Base Camp in the 2030s. India is the 27th country to sign the Artemis Accords.

Way Ahead India

Clearly, while environmental concerns are driving a switch from fossil-fuel power generation to much cleaner alternative energy for civil use, the military and space require much smaller, lighter, and long-lasting power sources for better mobility and in remote locations, including for planetary habitats.

India has a well-established nuclear energy program. India has the third-largest armed forces and very active borders spanning some of the highest mountains and remote jungles. Like the other major powers, the Indian armed forces require small nuclear power plants for use on the move.

India’s nuclear submarine program is still evolving, and India has yet to begin developing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Whether India will be part of the American Artemis or the Russo-Chinese joint space habitat project will evolve.

India’s future with SMRs looks promising, driven by a major government push (₹20,000 Cr budget allocation for 2025-26) to develop indigenous designs, aiming for 5 operational SMRs by 2033 to meet clean energy goals and industrial needs. SMRs offer flexibility for remote grids and heavy industry, potentially replacing coal and boosting energy independence, though success hinges on regulatory frameworks, private investment, and scaling production.

The Nuclear Energy Mission (2025-26 Budget) includes significant funding for SMR R&D. The focus is on indigenous designs (such as BARC’s Bharat SMRs) for 200MW & 55MW units, targeting commercial deployment. India could join up with Russia or others for technology support. SMRs provide reliable, low-carbon power, which is crucial for India’s 100GW nuclear target by 2047 and its net-zero commitments.

Opening the nuclear sector to private players and start-ups, alongside potential reforms to the Atomic Energy Act, is on the cards to accelerate innovation. They will provide process heat for energy-intensive industries. SMRs will deliver strategic advantages in the form of “dispatchable power.”

India must put in place clear regulatory frameworks and licensing for SMRs. Larger numbers will help achieve cost competitiveness with large reactors and coal. Building a robust indigenous supply chain and manufacturing capabilities is important. Addressing safety concerns and building public trust and acceptability will be required.

India is strategically pivoting towards SMRs as a key pillar for a diversified, resilient, and decarbonized energy future, leveraging strong government backing, growing industrial demand, and evolving policy to overcome traditional nuclear project hurdles. The technological potential is huge and promising, and it is time for India to get going.

• Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retired) is an Indian Air Force veteran, fighter test pilot, and ex-director-general of the Center for Air Power Studies. He has been decorated with gallantry and distinguished service medals during his 40-year tenure in the IAF.
• He tweets @Chopsyturvey 
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