Supply of appropriate nuclear technology for the developing world: Small power reactors for electricity generation

A growing world population, expected to reach eleven thousand million people by the year 2050, implies a growing need for the expansion of energy conversion technology. Over 80% of the world's population growth is projected to be centred in the lesser developed countries (LDCs), that part of the world expected to experience the largest growth rates in energy consumption. Constraints on fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas and coal, imply that other energy sources will be needed in large supply to fulfill LDC energy demands. This paper reviews the supply of small nuclear power plants (200 to 500 MWe electrical generating capacity) available on today's market, including the pre-fabricated designs of the United Kingdom's Rolls Royce Ltd and the French Alsthom-Atlantique Company. Also, the Russian VVER-440 conventionally built light-water reactor design is reviewed, including information on the Soviet Union's plans for expansion of its reactor-building capacity. A section of the paper also explores the characteristics of LDC electricity grids, reviewing methods available for incorporating larger plants into smaller grids as the Israelis are planning. Future trends in reactor supply and effects on proliferation rates are also discussed, reviewing the potential of the Indian 220 MWe pressurised heavy-water reactor, South Korean and Japanese potential for reactor exports in the Far East, and the Argentine-Brazilian nuclear programme in Latin America. This study suggests that small reactor designs for electrical power production and other applications, such as seawater desalination, can be made economical relative to diesel technology if traditional scaling laws can be altered by adopting and standardising a pre-fabricated nuclear power plant design. Also, economy can be gained if sufficient attention is concentrated on the design, construction and operating experience of suitably sized conventionally built reactor systems.