India Starts Feasibility Study for Small Modular Reactors

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) (New Delhi, India) has selected Accenture Solutions (Dublin, Ireland) as the consultant for conducting feasibility studies on deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) at its aging coal-fired power plants. This makes NTPC the first Indian state-owned utility to formally explore SMRs--compact nuclear units with a capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW).

The feasibility study will examine repurposing soon-to-be-retired coal plants by utilizing existing infrastructure such as land, water access and grid connectivity. Accenture will assess technical, financial and regulatory aspects, including safety zones and exclusion requirements.

This initiative aligns with India's long-term goal of expanding its nuclear energy capacity to 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2047, a significant leap from the current 8 GW. SMRs are seen as a scalable, low-emission solution to meet future power demands and decarbonize energy production.

NTPC's move is a part of its broader nuclear roadmap, which also includes plans for large-scale reactors totaling around 15 GW capacity. By exploring SMRs, India signals a strategic shift toward cleaner and more flexible nuclear technology.

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