Singapore urged to avoid being a test bed for small modular reactors

Singapore’s exploration of small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of its energy diversification strategy has sparked concerns among energy analysts. These reactors, while smaller and theoretically safer than traditional nuclear plants, face significant hurdles, including high costs, safety risks, and long-term waste management challenges.

Energy analyst Grant Hauber of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) cautioned against the city-state becoming a “guinea pig” for first-of-its-kind SMR technology, which he argued lacks proven commercial viability.

Hauber shared these views with Asian Power, highlighting that no SMRs are currently operational in Asia.

Globally, examples of small modular reactors (SMRs) include Russia’s 70 MWe Akademik Lomonosov, a floating nuclear co-generation plant; China’s over 200 MWe High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor-Pebble-bed Module; and Westinghouse’s 300 MWe AP300, a pressurised water reactor design currently under development.

In July 2024, Singapore signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the US to explore advanced nuclear technologies, including SMRs. While this agreement aims to deepen collaboration, critics question the practicality of deploying SMRs in a densely populated, land-scarce country like Singapore.

Concerns over costs and feasibility

SMRs, with a capacity of up to 300 MWe, offer adaptability for small land areas. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, a typical SMR can fit within 10 acres.

However, Hauber pointed out that the cost per kilowatt for SMRs exceeds $10,000, rivaling or surpassing costs of traditional nuclear facilities. This cost disparity, combined with the untested nature of SMRs, raises doubts about their economic feasibility.

Dinita Setyawati, a senior electricity policy analyst at energy think tank Ember, questioned whether SMRs could meaningfully replace Singapore’s current energy mix, which relies heavily on oil (70%) and natural gas (25.4%). She suggested Singapore explore complementary solutions, such as renewable energy imports, to diversify its energy portfolio.

Long-term challenges

Waste management remains another significant challenge. High-level radioactive waste from nuclear power generation can take 10,000 years to decay, creating generational-scale liabilities.

Hauber noted that cross-border disposal of nuclear waste is fraught with political and ethical complications, making on-site storage in Singapore a potential necessity.

Safety is another concern. The 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan underscored the catastrophic risks associated with nuclear energy. Setyawati noted that while Singapore is technologically advanced enough to develop safety protocols, it should carefully study global best practices.

Roadmap for the future

Despite the challenges, Singapore is pressing ahead with initiatives to future-proof its energy infrastructure.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong announced at the Singapore International Energy Week 2024 that the government would launch the Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap.

This initiative, led by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and SP Group, aims to address the complexities of integrating renewable energy sources and increasing electricity demand.

The roadmap focuses on three areas:

1. Utilising distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar photovoltaics and battery systems, to enhance grid resilience.
2. Deploying digital solutions like grid digital twins to optimise grid planning, maintenance, and operations.
3. Maintaining stable power supplies while expanding the share of renewables in the energy mix.

Gan also reiterated the government’s plan to develop a pool of about 100 nuclear safety experts to support potential advancements in nuclear energy technologies over the medium to long term.

Balancing risks and opportunities

Proponents of SMRs highlight their compact size and enhanced safety features as potential advantages for land-scarce city-states. Gan suggested that SMRs, which can be shipped as modular units, could offer flexibility for countries like Singapore.

However, Hauber and Setyawati advocate prioritising renewable energy imports as a more practical solution for meeting Singapore’s immediate energy needs.

“There is a mix of faster-to-deliver and more economical solutions that do not tie Singapore to a single technology,” Hauber noted.

Parliamentary discussions on nuclear energy

With the Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap and civil nuclear cooperation agreement in place, Singapore appears poised to carefully weigh its options.

Earlier in April 2024, Workers’ Party MP for Aljunied GRC Gerald Giam raised questions in Parliament about Singapore’s nuclear energy plans.

He asked Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng when the government would take a position on adopting nuclear energy, as well as about efforts to build local expertise. Giam emphasised the need to provide clarity to both aspiring scientists and the public regarding Singapore’s stance on nuclear energy.

Dr Tan responded, clarifying that no decision has been made on whether nuclear energy will become part of Singapore’s energy mix.

He explained that the government is closely monitoring global advancements in nuclear technology, including SMRs and newer thermal reactors, to assess their safety profiles and commercial readiness.

Dr Tan also highlighted that conventional nuclear generators, such as first- and second-generation reactors, require a safety buffer zone that exceeds Singapore’s land area, further complicating deployment.

However, he affirmed the government’s commitment to building expertise in nuclear science, recognising that radiological safety and engineering capabilities remain relevant to Singapore’s energy planning.

Building expertise and maintaining flexibility

Singapore is steadily building a pipeline of nuclear experts to prepare for possible future adoption of nuclear energy.

Over the past decade, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has awarded 30 scholarships for postgraduate studies in nuclear science and engineering. The programme has cultivated a pool of 40 researchers specialising in fields such as radiobiology, radiochemistry, and nuclear safety.

Dr Tan noted that the government aims to expand this pool to about 100 nuclear safety experts over the medium to long term.

Local researchers are being sent to institutions overseas to gain expertise in advanced nuclear technologies, ensuring that Singapore remains prepared should the government decide to adopt nuclear energy in the future.

On nuclear fusion, Dr Tan acknowledged the global excitement surrounding the technology but noted its nascent stage.

He explained that existing fusion systems, such as tokamak reactors, remain experimental and require significantly more energy input than output. It will likely take at least a decade for nuclear fusion to achieve commercial viability, he added.