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Small Nuclear Reactor—Nordic District Heating Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Antti Teräsvirta

    (Fortum Power and Heat Oy, 02150 Espoo, Finland
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland)

  • Sanna Syri

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland)

  • Pauli Hiltunen

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland)

Abstract

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been recognized to have potential in decarbonizing district heating, which is currently an urgent sustainability challenge in many European countries. In this paper, the financial impacts of replacing peat and biomass-powered Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants with heat-only reactors of 24–200 MW power range and maximum output temperatures of 120 °C are studied. A district heating system of a medium-sized Nordic city in Eastern Finland is modeled with EnergyPRO computer software (EMD International A/S, Aalborg, Denmark), which is used to optimize plant units’ production for cost effectiveness. A future scenario is used to predict electricity prices, expenditures from CO 2 emission allowances, and fuel prices for the studied case. Results show that the low operating expenditures of CO 2 free heat-only reactors would compensate for the revenue losses from electricity sales and that a small number of micro reactors, with power output in the tens of megawatts range each, would be optimal for the studied case. Since investment cost estimates for SMRs still bear significant uncertainties, the subject should be followed in further studies, as heat-only SMRs could provide a profitable alternative for current CHP production in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Antti Teräsvirta & Sanna Syri & Pauli Hiltunen, 2020. "Small Nuclear Reactor—Nordic District Heating Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:15:p:3782-:d:388808
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Grzegórska & Piotr Rybarczyk & Valdas Lukoševičius & Joanna Sobczak & Andrzej Rogala, 2021. "Smart Asset Management for District Heating Systems in the Baltic Sea Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Gardumi, F. & Keppo, I. & Howells, M. & Pye, S. & Avgerinopoulos, G. & Lekavičius, V. & Galinis, A. & Martišauskas, L. & Fahl, U. & Korkmaz, P. & Schmid, D. & Montenegro, R. Cunha & Syri, S. & Hast, A, 2022. "Carrying out a multi-model integrated assessment of European energy transition pathways: Challenges and benefits," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    3. Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Andersen, Anders N. & Sorknæs, Peter, 2022. "The business-economic energy system modelling tool energyPRO," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    4. Pablo Fernández-Arias & Diego Vergara & Álvaro Antón-Sancho, 2023. "Bibliometric Review and Technical Summary of PWR Small Modular Reactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, July.
    5. Seyed Hadi Ghazaie & Khashayar Sadeghi & Ekaterina Sokolova & Evgeniy Fedorovich & Amirsaeed Shirani, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Desalination Technologies Powered by SMR," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, September.

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