An Overview of Small Nuclear Power Plants for Clean Energy Production: Comparative Analysis of Distributed Generation Technologies and Future Perspectives

Abstract

There is a steady trend in the world to increase the share of distributed generation. The volume of self-generated energy commissioning is constantly growing, with projected increases in growth rates in the future. At the same time, demands for efficiency and environmental safety in new power plants are constantly increasing. In this regard, one of the promising areas for the development of distributed energy is the transition to small nuclear power plants (SNPPs). As in the case of wind and solar power plants, SNPP operations are not accompanied by emissions of toxic substances or greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In addition, SNPPs consume a much smaller volume and mass of fuel compared to conventional small-capacity fossil fuel power plants. This paper describes the characteristics of the main types of distributed generation. The key technical and economic characteristics of existing and prospective small-capacity nuclear fuel facilities are systematized. The results of a comparative analysis of the cost of electricity produced by SNPPs and competing power plants are also presented. In addition, a number of promising regions of the Russian Federation for the introduction of SNPPS have been identified, and a review of the methods of energy storage for SNPPS, which are necessary when working in an isolated power system, has been carried out.