As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) drive exponential growth in global electricity demand, attention is shifting to nuclear’s smaller cousin: the small modular reactor (SMR).
These compact, factory-built units—typically producing less than 300 megawatts (MW)—are being promoted as a flexible solution for powering energy-intensive sectors such as data centers, heavy industry, and isolated grids.
India, which has set an ambitious 100 gigawatt (GW) nuclear capacity target by 2070, is entering the SMR arena with its Bharat Small Modular Reactor, developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). While China already has a 100 MW land-based demonstration SMR in operation and Russia is constructing units in Yakutia, India’s program remains in the development phase. Yet international collaboration is in play: Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, has openly signaled its willingness to partner on Bharat SMRs, potentially extending a cooperation model established through Kudankulam.
Russian SMRs illustrate the promise and complexity of the technology. Each unit, occupying just 15–17 hectares, integrates pumps, steam generators, and nuclear fuel into a compact module. With an electrical output of 55 MW and thermal energy capacity up to 200 MW, these reactors are designed to run on uranium enriched to 20%—within international safety limits but higher than conventional pressurized water reactors.
The transportability factor is crucial. “The reactor itself can be transported by train. It is ideal for remote areas, islands, or places where diesel is currently used,” explained Dr. Alexander Volgin, Director of Projects (South Asia Region) at Rosatom, in an interview with NDTV. That flexibility makes SMRs attractive for both off-grid communities and data centers, which increasingly require stable, round-the-clock clean power beyond what intermittent renewables can provide.
Market Dynamics: China Ahead, India Catching Up
Globally, SMRs are no longer speculative. China’s 100 MW SMR is already grid-connected, marking the country as the current leader. Russia, meanwhile, is extending its decades of experience with small reactors on icebreakers into land-based and floating SMR markets, including signed agreements with Uzbekistan. Western countries are also in the race—France and the United States among them—but commercial deployment timelines remain uncertain.
India’s position is more aspirational. The 100 GW nuclear pledge by 2070, made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscores nuclear’s role in the country’s net-zero strategy. However, with only 7 GW of installed nuclear capacity today, scaling to 100 GW requires both rapid expansion of large reactors and deployment of smaller, modular alternatives. Rosatom’s pitch to co-develop SMRs with BARC could accelerate India’s entry, but the country has not yet finalized its approach to SMR commercialization.
Cost competitiveness remains the central debate. While SMRs have lower upfront capital costs and shorter construction times than gigawatt-scale reactors, their per-unit electricity cost is typically higher. Advocates argue the tradeoff is justified for applications where flexibility and scalability outweigh absolute cost efficiency, such as remote mining, industrial hubs, and AI-driven cloud infrastructure.
Safety is another dimension shaping the SMR narrative. Russia highlights its 400 reactor-years of accident-free experience with small reactors on icebreakers, while emphasizing passive and active safety features. For India, where public perception of nuclear safety is mixed, demonstrable reliability will be essential to secure broader acceptance.
The policy environment is also evolving. India’s decision to open the nuclear sector to private players—such as the joint venture between NPCIL and NTPC—signals potential pathways for private-sector participation in SMR deployment. Rosatom has indicated its interest in localization and supply chain partnerships, aligning with India’s broader push for domestic manufacturing.
As global electricity demand intensifies—particularly from AI, digital infrastructure, and industrial decarbonization—SMRs offer a modular, distributed approach that complements both renewables and large nuclear installations. For India, their adoption could help close the gap between current nuclear capacity and the 100 GW target.
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