India Developing SMR With 300 MW Capacity To Fulfill Clean Energy Transition: Singh

India is taking steps for the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMR), with up to 300 MW capacity to fulfill its commitment to clean energy transition, said Union Minister of State, Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday. 

In his address to a workshop on SMR, Singh said that the participation of the private sector and startups need to be explored in the development of this critical technology within India. 

He emphasised that technology sharing and availability of funding are the two crucial links for ensuring the commercial availability of SMR technology.

Singh said, "The exploration of new clean energy options is in tune with Prime Minister Modi’s roadmap for clean energy transition through bold climate commitments which are reflected in our updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The minister pointed out that as we have already taken steps for clean energy transition with penetration of non-fossil based energy resources and achieving net-zero by 2070, nuclear in terms of baseload power can play a big role in the de-carbonization strategy. 

"It is in this context that the role of nuclear energy will be critical for the clean energy transition of not just India but for the entire world," he added.

Singh also stated that an impressive number of measures have been taken to promote renewable energy in the country and India today stands at number four in the RE installed capacity across the world, after China, Europe and the United States. 

He added that these measures also conform to the Prime Minister’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal, where India contributes significant value to the global value chain.

It must be noted that India, comprising 17 per cent of the world population, has seen its primary energy growing at a rate of 4 per cent during the last decade, almost double the global growth rate of 1.3 per cent. 

However, by historical standards, our share in global emissions is less than 5 per cent, he said.