NRI Annual Review 2025 - Flipbook - Page 23
By Daniel Tyrrell,
Engineering Surveyor, NRI
As the global energy landscape
evolves, the nuclear industry
finds itself at a pivotal crossroads.
Advanced technologies are driving
this evolution, promising to reshape
the way we generate, distribute,
and manage energy. At NRI, our
focus is on supporting these
innovations to deliver sustainable
energy solutions, ensuring a reliable
and secure supply for the future.
The rise of SMRs and AMRs
One of the most significant changes in
the nuclear sector is the development
of SMRs and AMRs. These smaller,
modular designs are gaining traction
due to their simplified construction
and operational flexibility. Unlike
traditional large reactors, SMRs can
be constructed and brought online
more swiftly, providing a faster return
on investment for stakeholders and
offering a more adaptable power
generation solution.
The greater operational flexibility of
SMRs offers additional benefits for
reducing emissions. As electricity
grids across the globe are increasingly
supplied by wind and solar, this variable
generation needs to be backed up by
dispatchable power. With the ability to
adjust output as required, SMRs can
meet this need with nuclear generation
in a way gigawatt-scale reactors
couldn’t previously.
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“As an engineer with four decades’
experience, I see SMRs as the future of
nuclear energy. Their ability to be linked
for scaled capacity while allowing for
individual unit maintenance without
compromising generation makes them
ideal for modern energy demands.”
Innovative safety and
design features
Modern reactor designs are leveraging
cutting-edge safety features, such as
natural circulation cooling systems,
which eliminate the need for extensive
mechanical pumps. This inherent safety
characteristic enhances the reliability
of new reactor designs, reducing the
potential for incidents like Fukushima
Daiichi, where cooling system failures
led to significant reactor overheating.
The industry is exploring other novel
technologies, including liquid fuel
reactors, which are in their infancy
but offer promising advancements in
safety and efficiency.
