- Announcement By Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
- Landmark Project: Bihar’s first Nuclear Power Plant.
- Technology: Based on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.
- National Mission Context: Bihar is one of six states selected under India’s ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission.
- SMR Characteristics & Benefits:
- Cost-effective, compact, and scalable system.
- Aims to tackle Bihar’s power deficit.
- It will boost energy security, industrial growth, and sustainability.
- Complementary Project: Approval for a 1,000 MW battery storage project.
- Praise for Bihar’s Reforms:
- Installation of 8 million smart meters.
- Sharp drop in power losses.
Would you like me to find out more about Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology?
That’s right, the new nuclear power plant in Bihar will use Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.
⚛️ Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Technology Quick Facts
- Definition: Advanced nuclear fission reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MWe per unit (about one-third the size of traditional reactors).
- Key Characteristics:
- Small: Physically compact, requiring less land and water.
- Modular: Components are factory-fabricated and transported to the site for assembly, which simplifies construction.
- Core Advantages (as mentioned in your study note):
- Cost-effective & Reduced Risk: Lower capital investment due to smaller size and factory production.
- Scalable & Flexible Siting: Can be deployed in locations unsuitable for large plants (like smaller grids or remote areas) and capacity can be added incrementally.
- Enhanced Safety: Often features passive safety systems that rely on natural forces (like gravity or convection) to shut down and cool the reactor without external power or human intervention.
- Quick Deployment: Shorter construction times due to modular, standardised parts.
- Role in Energy Transition: Provides carbon-free baseload power that can complement intermittent renewable energy sources (like solar and wind) to ensure grid stability.