BARC Develops Small Modular Reactors to Expand India’s Nuclear

Wedoany.com Report-Dec.14, The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has commenced design and development activities for small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of India's programme to expand nuclear power generation capacity.

The Department of Atomic Energy has announced that three SMR concepts are under active development: the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth capacity specifically designed for hydrogen production.

According to the department's statement: "BSMR-200 and SMR-55 can be deployed as captive power plants for energy-intensive industries such as aluminium, steel, metal, etc., repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based power plants and for providing energy for remote as well as off-grid locations."

The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor will enable production of hydrogen that can serve as a clean energy carrier for the transport sector and various industrial processes. These SMR designs are therefore intended to support decarbonisation across electricity generation, heavy industry, and transportation while providing reliable clean energy supply.

India's current operational nuclear power capacity stands at 8,780 MW (excluding the permanently shut-down RAPS-1 unit). With projects under construction and those receiving financial sanction, the capacity is projected to reach 9,480 MW during 2025-2026. The long-term target is to achieve 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has commenced design and development activities for small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of India's programme to expand nuclear power generation capacity.

The Department of Atomic Energy has announced that three SMR concepts are under active development: the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth capacity specifically designed for hydrogen production.

According to the department's statement: "BSMR-200 and SMR-55 can be deployed as captive power plants for energy-intensive industries such as aluminium, steel, metal, etc., repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based power plants and for providing energy for remote as well as off-grid locations."

The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor will enable production of hydrogen that can serve as a clean energy carrier for the transport sector and various industrial processes. These SMR designs are therefore intended to support decarbonisation across electricity generation, heavy industry, and transportation while providing reliable clean energy supply.

India's current operational nuclear power capacity stands at 8,780 MW (excluding the permanently shut-down RAPS-1 unit). With projects under construction and those receiving financial sanction, the capacity is projected to reach 9,480 MW during 2025-2026. The long-term target is to achieve 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.