Senior Research Fellow Denise Cheong and Research Associate Nivedita S participated in a webinar on ‘The Prospects for Small Modular Reactors in Southeast Asia’ organised by the Energy Studies Institute of the National University of Singapore on 25 February 2021. In light of the rising energy demand and a lack of low-carbon options in the region to address climate change, the webinar focused on the drivers for, and prospects of, deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the role that SMRs can play in the clean energy transition and decarbonisation of the electricity market. Participants were introduced to OPEN100, a development framework for a small pressurized water reactor, where the underlying goal is to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy to combat climate change through standardisation at the technology level. The discussion also took a closer look at the challenges facing SMR deployment at the project level. These included the application of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestones Approach (originally designed for large conventional nuclear power plants) to SMRs and the need to create a viable financing plan, taking into account factors such as the shorter construction period for SMRs and opportunities for phased financing.

The panellists were Victor Nian, Senior Fellow, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore; Michelle Brechtelsbauer, Director, Stakeholder Relations, Energy Impact Center (EIC); Paul M Murphy, Founder and Managing Director of Murphy Energy & Infrastructure Consulting, LLC; Lim Soon Heng, Senior Advisor/Past President, Society of Floating Solutions (Singapore).