The most realistic alternative to the challenges of carbon neutrality and energy security faced by the entire world is the small modular reactor (SMR). Current laws and systems focus on large nuclear power plants, and to quickly develop and commercialize SMRs, a special law for SMRs is required.
Lee Gi-bok, president of the Korea Atomic Energy Society (KAERI), noted at a press conference held on the 25th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, that "the SMR special law is not a preferential treatment for a specific industry, but rather a future investment law aimed at securing energy security, economic growth, and responding to climate crises in Korea," urging for its swift passage.
SMRs refer to small nuclear power plants with an electric output of 300 megawatts (MW) or less. Compared to existing large nuclear power plants (1,000 to 1,500 MW), their output is about one-third to one-fifth of that, but they have the advantage of concentrating complex reactors into a smaller form that can be pre-fabricated in factories, reducing the risk of radioactive exposure in case of an accident.
The SMR special law was proposed on June 12th by Hwang Jeong-a, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, followed by proposals from Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the People Power Party, and Cheon Ha-ram, a member of the Reform Party, on the 23rd of the same month, and from Heo Seong-moo of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 16th. Although the content varies slightly among the lawmakers, the common core goal is to establish an environment in which the state systematically supports the development, commercialization, and export of SMR technology.
President Lee Gi-bok said, "Without a special law, the commercialization of SMRs will be delayed by at least 5 to 10 years due to complex procedures like feasibility studies, site selection, and permits," urging the swift passage of the SMR special law to accelerate the development and commercialization of SMR technology and to seize the global market in the 2030s.
The world is in competition to develop SMRs. According to the Korea Atomic Energy Society, the number of SMRs has increased from around 90 last year to 127 currently, with 51 of them in the permitting stage. Countries are mobilizing national capabilities to seize the SMR market.
The United States saw President Donald Trump sign an executive order in May on the 'deployment of advanced reactor technologies for national security.' The United Kingdom established the Great British Nuclear last year, directly managing the entire process of SMR development, demonstration, and commercialization. Experts interpreted that these countries view SMRs not just as a simple energy source, but as a key means of national security and technological hegemony.
On the other hand, environmental groups argue against the establishment of the SMR special law, citing that SMRs contradict the energy transition centered on renewable energy, have lower economic viability, and most importantly, generate a larger amount of nuclear waste compared to large nuclear power plants.
In reality, SMRs yield less energy per fuel compared to existing large nuclear power plants, and, because they are built on a smaller scale, it is difficult to secure temporary storage facilities for radioactive waste. Additionally, since they are installed close to power consumption areas, securing even stronger safety measures than those for existing large nuclear power plants is also considered a major task.
Experts in nuclear energy explained that SMRs are smaller than large nuclear power plants and have made significant efforts to improve fuel efficiency in their design, which could lead to relatively lower fuel consumption while producing the same amount of energy, potentially reducing the amount of nuclear waste.
Professor Shim Hyung-jin of the Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering at Seoul National University explained that by around 2030, when SMRs are expected to be commercialized domestically, it may indeed be possible to reduce the amount of nuclear waste by using new nuclear fuels currently under development. A representative example is high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which could be enriched up to four times compared to existing nuclear fuel, leading to the production of more electricity relative to the amount of fuel.
Lim Sang-gyu, deputy minister of the Korea Atomic Energy Society, stated that claims of SMRs being less economically viable than large nuclear power plants are not accurate. He said, "Unlike large nuclear power plants, SMRs are installed on-site using existing production methods, making them cheaper to manufacture and therefore much more economically viable." Lee Gi-bok also said, "SMRs have far greater market potential as they can be used not only for electricity generation but also for hydrogen production, regional heating, and isolated power supply networks."
The Korea Atomic Energy Society proposed on that day to create a unified bill that combines the advantages of the bills proposed by both parties and to establish a special committee for SMRs under the Nuclear Promotion Committee. Furthermore, to enhance public acceptance, they stated that the site selection process should be simplified and that incentives exceeding those provided in the 'Act on the Support of Areas Surrounding Power Plants' should be offered, along with support systems that allow citizens to participate.
In the U.S. and the U.K., local residents providing sites for SMR installation and operation are also receiving benefits. In the U.K., the Rolls-Royce SMR project has created 3,000 jobs and reduced electricity bills for local residents. The U.S. is offering tax incentives through the Holtec International SMR project.