SMRs in Global Spotlight
The Moon Jae-in administration’s nuclear power policy is showing some changes after the recent U.S.-South Korea summit. The South Korean government is still negative about new nuclear power plant construction in South Korea, but it is gradually shifting towards next-generation technology R&D from decommissioning.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on June 8 that it would apply for a preliminary feasibility study for small modular reactor (SMR) development this autumn. “New nuclear power plant construction can be discussed only after safety is ensured, which will take time, but R&D activities will go on regardless of it,” it explained.
SMRs are in the global spotlight these days. Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently mentioned that he would build one in which sodium is used as a coolant. An SMR has a capacity of 300 MW or less with a reactor, a steam generator, and so on contained in one container.
“South Korea has conducted research on various types of SMRs and next-generation nuclear power technologies, ranging from third-generation ones based on existing light water reactors to sodium-cooled reactors,” the ministry went on to say, continuing, “The type mentioned by the founder of Microsoft is a fourth-generation one, the technology NuScale Power is working on is third-generation, and the direction of the South Korean government’s policy will be set in view of the trend.”
In addition, the government made its first positive remark on the role of nuclear power in efforts for carbon neutrality. “A total of 24 nuclear power plants are currently in operation in South Korea, two will be added in the near future, and the number is scheduled to decrease to 11 by 2050,” the ministry said, adding, “The number of 11 is still large, which means the power plants to be in operation for six decades will play a role in the efforts.” It also said that the government will continue to seek business opportunities abroad by assisting nuclear power technology exporters and the cooperation discussed at the summit is in this regard.