IAEA Support for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Context
Global deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) requires international cooperation to ensure safety, security, and regulatory alignment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a central coordinating role through multiple initiatives.
IAEA’s Support Mechanisms for SMRs
Platform on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications
Acts as a comprehensive coordination hub for member states.
Provides technical guidance, policy assistance, and capacity building.
Facilitates information exchange on design, safety, economics, and applications (e.g., power generation, hydrogen production, desalination).
Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI)
Aims to harmonise global safety and regulatory frameworks for SMRs.
Ensures common standards across countries to speed up cross-border deployment.
Encourages collaboration between regulators, designers, and operators.
SMR Regulators’ Forum
A network of national regulatory authorities.
Enables experience sharing, best practices, and safety review alignment.
Reduces duplication and promotes consistent licensing approaches.
Safeguards by Design (SBD) Programme
Encourages integrating IAEA safeguards at the early design stage.
Balances economic efficiency, safety, security, and non-proliferation goals.
Helps developers make informed design choices before construction.
Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI)
Background
Announced: March 2022
By: IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi
Aim: Facilitate the safe and secure global deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactors to help achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Purpose and Vision
To harmonise global nuclear regulatory and industrial standards for SMRs.
To reduce licensing uncertainties, lower costs, and accelerate global deployment.
Supports climate change mitigation and energy security through standardisation and international cooperation.
Aims to integrate SMRs as part of the clean energy transition to net-zero by 2050.
Structure of NHSI
Two complementary tracks:
1. Regulatory Track
Focus: Creating a common global approach to licensing and regulatory review.
Working Groups (3):
Information-sharing framework among regulators.
International pre-licensing design review mechanisms.
Mutual recognition and leveraging other regulators’ reviews.
🗣️ Outcome: Builds regulatory trust and helps nations collaborate efficiently on SMR licensing.
2. Industry Track
Focus: Technical, design, and standardisation harmonisation for the nuclear industry.
Objectives (4):
Harmonise high-level user requirements.
Share national standards and codes.
Conduct experiments and validation of computer simulations for SMRs.
Accelerate nuclear infrastructure development in new countries.
Prelims Practice MCQ
Q. With reference to the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI), consider the following statements:
It was launched in 2022 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The initiative seeks to harmonise regulatory and industrial standards for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
It aims to help achieve global net-zero carbon goals by 2050.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (d)
Explanation:
All three statements are correct. The NHSI, launched by the IAEA in March 2022, focuses on harmonising nuclear regulatory standards and enabling SMRs to contribute to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Q. Under the NHSI, which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Track | Main Objective |
1. Regulatory Track | Building information-sharing frameworks and design review mechanisms |
2. Industry Track | Standardising codes, conducting experiments, and harmonising user requirements |
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
✅ Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Both tracks are correctly matched. The Regulatory Track focuses on regulatory collaboration and design review, while the Industry Track addresses standardisation, experimentation, and harmonisation.
Q. Which of the following is NOT a primary objective of the NHSI Industry Track?
(a) Harmonisation of user requirements for SMR deployment
(b) Development of international pre-licensing design reviews
(c) Information sharing on national standards and codes
(d) Accelerating the implementation of nuclear infrastructure for SMRs
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The development of pre-licensing design reviews falls under the Regulatory Track, not the Industry Track. The other three are core Industry Track objectives.
Q. The IAEA’s ‘Safeguards by Design Programme’ primarily helps stakeholders in:
(a) Designing SMRs with early integration of safety and security features.
(b) Ensuring that design decisions consider international safeguards for nuclear material.
(c) Preparing financial feasibility studies for SMR projects.
(d) Developing AI-based control systems for nuclear plants.
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The Safeguards by Design (SBD) initiative integrates non-proliferation and safety measures at the design stage to meet international safeguards and optimise cost, safety, and security.
For more information : IAEA SMR Platform