The IAEA event explores the importance of stakeholder engagement for SMRs

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are an innovative option on the horizon for clean and reliable electricity generation as well as process heat, district heating, hydrogen and other industrial applications. While research suggests generally positive public attitudes toward SMRs, less is known about how “not in my backyard” attitudes might impact the future deployment of these reactors, especially given their potential proximity by residential areas.

A recent event at the IAEA explored the need for local stakeholder engagement for SMRs. Stakeholder engagement has long been recognized as an essential element of a comprehensive nuclear energy program and is among the 19 nuclear infrastructure issues included in the IAEA’s Benchmark Approach. During a panel session at the event in Vienna last month, SMR vendors and developers, government representatives, radioactive waste management organizations and leaders of communities that host or plan to host nuclear facilities, including SMRs, discussed the various facets of employment SMR stakeholders.

“In Finland, the majority of residents in the metropolitan area of ​​Helsinki and the city of Tampere had a positive attitude towards the existence of SMR in their municipality of residence in 2022,” said Matti Kojo, associate professor at LUT University, east of Helsinki. who conducted research on public acceptance of SMRs in Finland. “However, we also see differences depending on how close the SMRs would be to their homes, where their position becomes much more critical.”

SMRs use much smaller amounts of hazardous materials than larger reactors and possess inherent safety features. Consequently, some national nuclear safety regulators are examining whether SMRs may require smaller emergency planning areas, thereby making them easier to deploy safely, including near residential areas. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, for example, issue a ruling on this issue in 2023.

Such matters are often at the heart of community concerns, said Janne Wallenius, co-founder of Blykalla, a lead-cooled SMR fast reactor developer. “What we’re hearing in Sweden is that municipalities need district heating and small-scale local power generation to attract energy-intensive industry because the existing grid can’t provide more power,” he said. “Through our discussions with municipal representatives, we learned that citizens are not concerned about the novelty of nuclear reactor technology, but about the extent of the emergency planning area and nuclear waste management.”

Sophie Macfarlane‑Smith, Head of Customer Business at Rolls Royce SMR UK, said the company’s decades of experience as a nuclear site manufacturer and operator showed a clear lesson: “We have a responsibility to communicate in openly, transparently and honestly with our communities and listen to them and act on what they say,” she said.

Management solutions for high-level radioactive waste generated by SMR will vary from country to country: in some countries it can be stored in existing facilities, while in others new facilities will have to be built, including for permanent disposal. Fuel type is another factor that will influence waste management solutions.

“From an engineering perspective, we’re completely confident that we can handle the spent fuel until it’s disposed of; however, the US phase-out conversation is still ongoing with no immediate plans to begin spent fuel disposal,” said Everett Redmond, senior director, Federal Affairs at Oklo, the sodium-cooled fast reactor developer.

A key question concerns the amount of waste to be generated by SMR. The answer is currently unknown as it remains unclear how many SMRs will be built. Currently, SMRs have been implemented in China and Russia, but approximately 70 active models are in various stages of development worldwide. The latest IAEA High Case Projection sees global nuclear capacity increasing by 2.5 times by 2050, with nearly 25% of the increase coming from SMRs.

Participants at the event, which was held in parallel with the IAEA International Conference on SMRs and Their Applications, emphasized the importance of engaging with stakeholders throughout the life cycle of a nuclear facility. “It’s our job to have these conversations all the way through, and not 50 years from now when we decommission, but when we’re putting the plans together and approaching the regulators and government bodies that deal with decommissioning,” he said. said Ryan Duncan, Head of Government Relations at Last Energy, which develops modular micro-nuclear plants. “We should share that with stakeholders and local communities, and that’s the next step in our playbook.”

Other stakeholder engagement issues discussed were employment opportunities, including through the supply chain and manufacturing facilities; effective communication with investors; and maintaining relationships with different levels of government, including local communities. Participants also discussed the importance of how electricity production costs and timelines for SMR implementation are communicated.

“This is where honesty is incredibly important because the nuclear industry has for decades over-promised and under-delivered and we are suffering as an industry because of it,” Macfarlane-Smith said.

Ultimately, the success of SMRs will require timely engagement and open dialogue with the communities that will host them. Listening to and incorporating stakeholder feedback can support trust in the project. “Most respondents to our survey said they want to be informed about the project, and a large majority would like to participate in it in a collaborative way,” said Kojo.