India’s Nuclear Energy Dreams

Context

One more unit at Kakrapar achieves criticality (controlled but sustained nuclear fission reaction) and is ready to produce nuclear power.

Background

In April 2007, the Government of India approved plans for the first four of eight planned 700 MWe PHWR units: Kakrapar units 3 and 4 and Rajasthan Nuclear (Rawatbhata) units 7 and 8, to be built by Hindustan Construction using indigenous technology. In mid-2009, construction approval was confirmed, and late in 2009 the finance for them was approved.

Kakrapar-1 and Kakrapar-2, both designed by Indian and having 220 MWe (megawatt electric) PHWRs capacity, and entered into commercial operation in 1993 and 1995 respectively.

Unit 3 of the Kakrapar nuclear power plant in the Surat district of the Indian state of Gujarat has attained a sustained chain reaction for the first time. It is the country's first indigenously-designed 700 MWa Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) to reach the commissioning milestone. Loading of fuel into the reactor's core was completed in mid-March.

Status & Significance

India is a big country so it needs a large amount of electricity generating capacity to cater to the rising energy demand. The country is still heavily dependent on fossil energy for its energy need.

Data suggest India’s energy demand is likely to grow at 4.2% per annum through 2035.

* Installed capacity in respect of RES (MNRE) as on 30.06.2020. RES (Renewable Energy Sources) include Small Hydro Project, Biomass Gasifier, Biomass Power, Urban & Industrial Waste Power, Solar and Wind Energy.

KAPP-3 is India's first 700 MWe unit, and now has become the biggest indigenously developed variant of the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). Until now, the biggest reactor size of indigenous design was the 540 MWe PHWR, two of which have been deployed in Tarapur, Maharashtra. The development will, to some extent, help India meet its energy demand.

Given India plans to add 175 GW of renewable energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar, the nuclear projects would help provide the base load to balance the power grid.

Evolution of Indian Nuclear Power Program

Soon after Independence, the Constituent Assembly passed the Indian Atomic Energy Act in 1948, under which the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was constituted in the same year. Under the AEC, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was created in 1954 to serve as the apex executive agency of the government in this field with the overall guidance of the AEC, and it has since been responsible for all civilian and military nuclear activities in India. We can explain the evolution in dividing four revolutionary periods.

1^st Revolution

Beginning from 1954, It was the beginning of the Program, started by huge efforts of Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha. The uniqueness of this programme is the concept of the 3-stage nuclear power programme propounded by him. The 3-stage nuclear power programme essentially links the fuel cycles of each stage in a manner that multiplies the potential of nuclear fuel several-hundred folds.

2^nd Revolution

Beginning from1960, onwards, Indian engineers and scientists made significant contributions in the construction and commissioning of India’s first PHWRs at Rajasthan (RAPS-1&2) plant parallel with two units at Tarapur (TAPS-1&2). In this time local manufacturing of several components started.

3^rd Revolution

A significant number of developmental works were carried out to meet the design requirements. A decision was taken in the mid-1970s to standardize all future 220 MWe stations. Narora in UP was selected for setting up the first of the standardized units. Kakrapar in 1980, was the major milestone, helped to remove all earlier complex technical problems.

Kakrapar 3

4^th Revolution

Indian nuclear power plants have attained excellent operational performance. Some of our plants have been among the best performing units in the world in terms of capacity utilization. In the year 2002, Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) was the world’s best operating nuclear power plant among the PHWRs.

Types of Nuclear Reactors

The purpose of the reactor does not depend on the choice of coolant or moderator, but rather on reactor size and on how the reactor is operated, and on what ancillary materials are put into fuel rods besides fuel.

Light Water Reactors use water as both and a coolant method and a neutron moderator that reduces the speed of fast moving neutrons (eg. Kudankulam)

Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor is a nuclear reactor that uses heavy water as its coolant and neutron moderator (eg. Kakrapar)

Graphite Moderator Reactor is a nuclear reactor that uses carbon as a neutron moderator.

Fast Breeder Reactor is a nuclear reactor that uses fast neutron to generate more nuclear fuels than they consume while generating power, dramatically enhancing the efficiency of the use of resources (eg. Kalpakkam)

Pros & Cons of Nuclear Energy

Pros

• Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
• High Power Output.
• Inexpensive Electricity.
• Nuclear Energy Doesn’t Rely on Fossil Fuels.
• Economic Progress.

Cons

• Environmental Impact by Nuclear Fuels.
• Past History of Nuclear Accidents.
• High Up-Front and End Stage Cost.
• Target of Terrorists.
• Not a Renewable Fuel Source.

Conclusion

More often than not, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to nuclear energy.

It has very low operating costs, produces sufficient energy to meet demand, and has a variety of other economic benefits that can’t be ignored. While accidents and the environmental impact of spent fuel need to be considered, we simply don’t have any better options for long-term mass energy production. If better solutions come along, the future of nuclear energy will have to be re-examined.

Though we can take measures to shut the old and weak plants, for example, the largest producer of nuclear energy i.e. France had decided to shut its nuclear reactors by 2035, and rely completely on other renewables including solar and wind energy.

Also new, exciting technology continues to come out on a day-to-day basis but for now though, nuclear remains as one of the only viable options to solving Earth’s increasing energy needs.

Connecting the Dots

Question for Prelims:

With reference to the use of nuclear energy in the power generation purposes, consider the following statements:

1. Nuclear energy is a renewable energy source.
2. Nuclear energy use is cheaper than other available energy sources.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question for Mains:

Examine the relevance of nuclear energy for power generation in the current environmental and social challenges.