Nuclear energy players bat for faster clearances, tech indigenisation

Nuclear power developers seek shorter regulatory approval timelines, standardised designs and greater technology indigenisation to reduce costs and speed up projects

Private and public sector companies setting up nuclear power projects are demanding technology indigenisation to lower costs, standardised designs and shorter timelines for regulatory approvals, especially those related to land acquisition, for speedy execution of capacities.

 

At the BNEF Summit held in New Delhi on Friday, Vivek Sharma, Business Head, Adani Atomic Energy, said 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) and Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technologies represent the low-hanging fruit and are expected to play a prominent role in the first phase of the country's nuclear mission, given that the related supply chain is almost entirely indigenised. These, however, will not be sufficient to meet the 100 GW target.

 

“We will need other technologies as well at some point. The key will be for global technology providers to come to India and localise their manufacturing as much as possible. For nuclear power to make commercial sense and for consumers to buy it, the electricity has to be available at an acceptable price,” he said, adding that the two major challenges for setting up nuclear power projects include the development of the local supply chain and bringing technologies to scale.

 

Sharma also said that conducting some of the studies in parallel can reduce the execution timeline. “We are not waiting for one phase of study to be completed before starting the next. Instead, we are investing in end-to-end studies to save time,” he said.

 

He also said that companies have to be strategic about site selection, particularly where land is readily available or can be acquired with relative ease. “We are prepared to bear the cost upfront to complete all the required studies together and ensure 100 per cent regulatory compliance and adherence to safety standards,” he added.

 

Sharma said regulatory approval for a standardised and operational design is expected to be much faster and easier than for a new technology that is not yet operational or is being adopted in India for the first time. He said the approval process should largely be limited to site-specific requirements and should not involve reassessing the design each time.

 

Sharma said Adani Atomic Energy has already evaluated more than 50 sites and shortlisted five to six sites. “We have already invested in the studies and other groundwork required at these locations, and that work is ongoing. At some of the sites, we have also acquired the land, which gives us an advantage,” he said.

 

On the timelines for the commissioning of nuclear power plants, K Shanmugha Sundaram, Director, Projects, NTPC, said that for a greenfield project, land acquisition itself can take at least two-and-a-half to four years. “Historically, from the first pour of concrete (FPC) to commercialisation, it has been possible to complete a plant in around five to six years. However, if you include the time required to reach FPC, including land acquisition, it could add another six to seven years. So, for a greenfield site, the overall timeline could be a minimum of 12-13 years,” he said.

 

At the same time, at brownfield sites, where the necessary infrastructure and clearances are already in place, FPC can be achieved much faster and plants can be commissioned in around seven to eight years, he said. Both Sharma and Sundaram were part of a panel discussion on nuclear energy at the event.

 

Sundaram said that for NTPC, reaching the 30 GW target will involve all four technologies — PHWR, PWR, Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) — with at least 80 per cent coming from PHWR and PWR. “Later, we will move towards the other technologies,” he added.

 

He also said that if 10 different developers develop five units of 700 MW at each plant simultaneously, India could reach around 40 GW of capacity within 15 years. "Enablers are required in terms of financing and regulatory frameworks to make nuclear power more affordable," he said.

 

Speaking at the same panel discussion, Naveen Ahlawat, President & Head of Sustainability and Decarbonisation, Jindal Steel Limited, said that the company is exploring multiple sites, with two or three sites shortlisted. “One area that we believe needs to be strengthened significantly in the rules and regulations under the SHANTI Act is the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy so that we can leverage foreign capital at a lower cost of capital,” he said.

 

Commenting on the need for skilled manpower, Ahlawat said the country must train batches of nuclear engineers every year. "Before we kick-start the first project, we need a strong pool of around 150-200 dedicated professionals. We have already formed a team and a new batch will be trained every year. The first batch of around 30 engineers is expected to be ready in the next two months,” he said.