The Future of Nuclear Power in India

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology/Energy

 

Source: TH

Context: There are doubts about whether nuclear power, with its associated concerns about cost and safety, remains a viable choice for India as solar and wind power gain popularity globally.

 

Global outlook for nuclear power:

• In Europe and the U.S., nuclear power is seeing an upsurge, particularly after the Ukraine war.
• The U.K. is scaling up nuclear power to decarbonise the electricity
• Germany has shut down the last of its nuclear power plants, while France (the nuclear powerhouse of the world) is struggling to replace its ageing reactors.
• China and South Korea have committed to increasing the share of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix (to 30% by 2030 in S. Korea).
• Japan is restarting the shutdown of reactors after the Fukushima (accident) because it was otherwise dependent either on expensive imported coal/natural gas (LNG).

  

Advantages of nuclear power:

• It is a low-carbon power.
  • A nuclear plant operating 1,000 MW at 90% PLF (plant load factor) requires only 25 tonnes of low-enriched (below 5% proportion of fissile uranium) uranium fuel per year.
  • A coal plant (of similar capacity) requires ~5 million tonnes of coal and coal produces ash containing many heavy metals detrimental to the water source.
• Firm and dispatchable power. Firm power is the power that can be sent to the electric grid to be supplied whenever needed.
• Low operating cost, job-intensive.

 

Disadvantages: High capital cost, low safety/prone to accidents, concerns over nuclear proliferation, not renewable energy, radioactive waste generation, etc.

 

India’s nuclear plan:

 

• Nuclear power is only 2.5%-3.2% of India’s installed and generated power and is premised on working around its limited supply of enriched uranium.
• This is expected to increase to 22.5 GW by 2031 from 6.9 GW now.

 

Why does India need more nuclear power?

• Very limited growth potential for hydropower because of conserving biodiversity, the costs of rehabilitating and compensating landowners and the seismological factors in the Himalayas.
• India has nearly 210 gigawatts of coal capacity, producing 73% of the electricity of India, which is not environmentally friendly.
• Wind and solar powers are intermittent or variable.

 

Way ahead for India:

• The nuclear industry should move towards ‘passive safety’ designs (for nuclear reactors). For example, active cooling pumps.
• New designs like small modular reactors will address the cost issue.
• Enforcing nuclear liability, for example, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010.
• Ending the monopoly of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in reactor operations. Allow other government companies like the NTPC.

 

Conclusion:

• If India hopes to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2070, it needs ~100 GW of nuclear power by 2050.
• Therefore, India should never consider phasing out nuclear power, which is a low carbon, firm and reliable.
• India needs a portfolio of technologies to make nuclear power safe and cost-effective (capital cost) over time.

 

Insta Links:

Nuclear Technology

 

Mains Links:

Give an account of the growth and development of nuclear science and technology in India. What is the advantage of a fast breeder reactor programme in India? (UPSC 2019)

 

 Prelims Links: UPSC 2016