Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs) Initiative
Source: IE | PIB
Six major private-sector companies — Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Adani Power, Hindalco Industries, JSW Energy, and Jindal Steel & Power — have formally expressed interest in setting up Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) projects under the Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs) initiative of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
Around 16 sites across six states — Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh — have been identified for these projects.
Construction and operation of SMRs will take place under NPCIL’s supervision, with operational control and ownership remaining with the public sector, while private companies will secure rights over electricity produced for their industrial use.
The private partners will fully finance these projects — including capital and lifecycle costs — and reimburse NPCIL for its role in project execution and decommissioning. In return, they will gain long-term and reliable power supply for their energy-intensive industrial activities.
The Future of SMRs
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), typically ranging from 30 MWe to 300 MWe per unit, are emerging as a promising solution for commercially competitive nuclear power amid delays in large-scale nuclear projects worldwide.
Despite having about one-third the capacity of traditional reactors, SMRs can still generate significant low-carbon electricity, making them ideal for energy-intensive industries such as steel, aluminum, and cement.
They can also be deployed on sites of retired thermal power plants, enabling India to reuse existing infrastructure while advancing its clean energy goals.
Global Momentum and Technological Interest
The global SMR ecosystem is gradually expanding, with only two operational projects so far:
- Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit (two 35 MWe modules, operational since May 2020).
- China’s HTR-PM demonstration project, grid-connected in December 2021 and commercially operational in December 2023.
Leading international players such as Holtec International (USA), Rolls-Royce SMR (UK), NuScale’s VOYGR SMR, Westinghouse Electric’s AP300, and GE-Hitachi’s BWRX-300 are actively developing and marketing SMR technologies.
Nuclear Power for the AI and Data Revolution
Globally, tech giants like Google and Microsoft are also exploring nuclear power, including SMRs, to meet the 24×7 massive electricity demand of data centers, which is fueling the AI boom.
Although renewables (solar, wind) remain the primary choice, intermittency and lack of adequate grid-scale storage have limited their scalability.
SMRs, by providing clean, reliable, and continuous electricity, can complement renewable energy in the future power grid.
Challenges
Despite their potential, SMRs are not yet commercially proven. Major hurdles include:
- High costs
- Complex regulatory barriers
- Public concerns over nuclear safety
Key questions remain about whether these compact reactors can achieve economies of scale and attract long-term private investment.
Nevertheless, India’s recent policy — allowing private participation under NPCIL’s supervision — signals a major step in adopting SMR potential while carefully managing risks.
India’s SMR Ambitions: A New Chapter in Nuclear Innovation
The BSMR project represents India’s strategic move into SMR production and innovation value chains.
India aims not only to accelerate its clean energy transition, but also to position itself as a global technology leader, making nuclear innovation a pillar of its foreign policy and industrial diplomacy.
New Delhi views SMRs as a technology solution capable of driving industrial decarbonization while providing baseload power for grid stability.
Technical Limitations and the PHWR Challenge
India has demonstrated the capability to build small 220 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), but this technology is now seen as outdated.
- PHWRs rely on natural uranium and heavy water.
- Globally, however, the Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) system has become the standard, using light water as both coolant and moderator.
PWR designs are considered the international benchmark for efficiency, safety, and scalability.
This gap highlights India’s need to upgrade reactor designs to remain competitive and fully leverage SMR potential.
India’s SMR Technological Diversity: Balancing Innovation and Self-Reliance
To address this gap and align with global standards, India — through Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) — is developing a diverse mix of SMR designs.
These include three prototypes:
- BSMR (200 MWe)
- Bharat Small Reactor (BSR, 220 MWe)
- SMR-55 (55 MWe)
The BSR continues India’s PHWR legacy, but the BSMR and SMR-55 are based on PWR/light-water designs, aligning Indian nuclear technology with the global mainstream.
SMRs in Union Budget 2025–26
One of the major announcements in the Union Budget 2025–26 was the launch of the Nuclear Energy Mission, dedicated to advancing SMR research and development.
The government has allocated ₹20,000 crore for this initiative, aiming to develop and commission at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033.