Small Modular Reactors for the Czech Market: An update - 2024

The publication focuses developments in the field of small and medium modular reactors (collectively referred to as SMRs) in 2024 and builds upon the unique analysis "Prospect of Small Modular Reactors in the Czech Republic," published at the end of 2023. The author, once again, is emeritus Professor Stephen Thomas from University of Greenwich, London, with a chapter on the Czech context by Edvard Sequens from Calla - Association for Preservation of the Environment.

The publication summarizes information on the SMR technologies under development and their key markets in Europe and world-wide. It further focuses on the British company Rolls-Royce after it established a strategic partnership with the Czech largest energy company ČEZ. This publication also includes a special chapter where the energy expert Edvard Sequens summarizes the situation in the Czech Republic, where more players expressed interest in SMRs apart from ČEZ (Sokolovská uhelná, Orlen..)

The authors provide a realistic assessment of the current state of the SMR sector and the credibility of the arguments made in favor of SMRs, viewed as a solution to the high costs and lengthy construction times of conventional nuclear power plants by their supporters. From the perspective of potential stakeholders, the investment in SMRs will remain risky, at least until a large number of orders for a specific type have been placed. Furthermore, until a greater number of SMRs are built and operational, it will remain unclear whether the promises regarding cost and feasibility—which currently seem overly optimistic—can be trusted. According to Stephen Thomas, the “extravagant claims about SMRs regarding costs, buildability, reliability, and safety remain speculative at best.”