NTPC eyes 10GW nuclear capacity, new subsidiary

News Excerpt:

India's largest power generator, NTPC Ltd, is planning a major nuclear foray by setting up 10GW capacity with an investment of ₹1.5 trillion over a period of 10 years, according to the top executive of the state-run company. The move would more than double India’s current nuclear power capacity.

More about News:

  • NTPC already has a joint venture with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NCPIL) for setting up two nuclear power plants in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
  • NTPC will execute the Mahi Banswara nuclear project (4x700MW) through the existing joint venture with NPCIL.
  • In the next 100 days, NTPC and NPCIL's joint venture will lay the foundation stone for the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (4x700MW).
    • The joint venture will develop two pressurized heavy-water reactor projects, Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (4x700MW), and Chutka Madhya Pradesh Atomic Power Project (2x700MW).

Nuclear energy in India:

  • India, which currently has 23 operational nuclear reactors, does acknowledge the role of nuclear energy in its decarbonisation plan and is planning for a rapid expansion in the coming years, even though the share of nuclear energy in electricity generation is likely to remain extremely modest in the foreseeable future.
  • The currently operational reactors have a combined installed electricity generating capacity of 7,480 MW (about 7.5 GW). At least ten more reactors are under construction, and the capacity is supposed to triple to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. 
  • The share of nuclear energy in total electricity generation capacity is just about 3.1%, among the lowest in countries that do use nuclear energy.

Proposed Subsidiary and Future Plans:

  • NTPC is exploring new sites for nuclear projects in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka, subject to approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
    • NTPC has sought government approval to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary called "NTPC Nuclear Ltd" for carrying out future nuclear business.
  • The 10GW nuclear capacity would be over and above NTPC's target of 60GW green power capacity by 2032.

Nuclear Power Significance and Goals:

  • NTPC's focus on nuclear assumes significance as India has only about 7.5 GW of nuclear power capacity.
  • NTPC's current generating capacity, including thermal and renewable sources, stands at 76GW, of which 87% is thermal.
  • The government plans to install 500GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2030, with 20 GW being nuclear.
  • A recent report prepared by IIM Ahmedabad said that nuclear energy would play a significant role in providing stable baseload power to India's future energy mix toward achieving its net-zero emissions targets.
  • Globally, nuclear energy will play an important role in decarbonizing and achieving net-zero targets.

Small modular reactors (SMRs):

  • SMRs are smaller reactors that can be factory-built, unlike conventional nuclear reactors that are built on site. 
  • They have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about a third of the capacity of traditional nuclear reactors, but being a mobile technology, they can be set up in locations not suitable for larger plants.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB):

  • The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board was constituted in 1983, by exercising the powers conferred by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions under the Act. 
  • The regulatory authority of AERB is derived from the Rules and Notifications promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act and the Environment (Protection) Act, of 1986.
  • Mission: The Mission of the AERB is to ensure the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to the health of people and the environment.

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