19 Prospects of Nuclear Energy in India

Dr. Dhanya M.S M.S and Dr. Sandeep Kumar

1. Introduction

Nuclear energy is one of the alternate energy sources to fossil fuel which is clean and safe to meet the energy demand. The main principle of the nuclear power generation lies in nuclear fission process where a heavy nucleus split into smaller nuclei with release of huge amount of energy. The contribution of nuclear energy to the electricity generation in 2017 is 10.6 percent (Fig 1) from about 450 nuclear reactors. The USA occupies the first position (805 TWh) in the electricity generation from nuclear energy followed by France (384 TWh) in 2016. The increase in global nuclear generation is 1.6 percent in 2016. India is one among the topmost 15 countries in global nuclear energy generation.

Fig1. World electricity production by different energy sources in 2017 (Source: IEA Electricity Information, 2017)

2. Nuclear energy production in India

The electricity produced from nuclear energy in India increased over the years contributing to2 percent of total electricity production of the country (Fig 2).

Fig 2. Electricity generation in India by different energy sources (as on 31 March, 2018) (Source:All India installed capacity of utility power stations.

The installed nuclear electricity generation capacity of India is 6.78 GW (as of 31 Dec, 2017). The electricity generated from the nuclear power is only 3.5 percent of total installed base. This is generated from seven operational nuclear power plants with 22 nuclear reactors (Fig 3 and Table 1).

Fig 2: Nuclear power plant operating and under contraction in India (http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/india.aspx

PHWR- Pressurized heavy water reactor, VVER- ‘Voda Voda Energo Reactor’ meaning water-cooled, water moderated energy reactor, BWR- Boiling Water Reactor

(Source: World Nuclear Association,http://www.world-nuclear.org)

The operators of these nuclear power plants are Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). The nuclear power stations at Kaiga, Kakrapar, Kundankulam, Kalpakkam, Narora, Rajasthan and Tarapur have 4,2,2,2,2,6,4 installed nuclear reactors respectively. The nuclear power generation in India increased over the years (Fig 3).

Fig 3. Nuclear power generation in India (Soucre: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2017)

The following (Table 2) are the nuclear reactors that are under construction in India. Seven reactors in 4 nuclear power plants are underway to operational adding to an extra installed capacity of 5.3 GW. Table 2 Nuclear reactors under construction in India

3. History of Nuclear Power in India

Apsara was the first nuclear reactor in India’s and Asia’s. It was designed and built in India, with assistance and fuel from the United Kingdom (UK) and finally inaugurated on January 20, 1957 (BARC; NTI, 2016). In 1956, a 40 MW nuclear reactor (CIRUS) agreement was signed with Canada and start working in 1960 (Fuhrmann, 2012). This reactor was assigned to use only for the military purpose. After, in 1963 and 1966, two reactors (RAPP-1 and RAPP-2 respectively) were established with assistance and ensured that they were not used for military purpose. The guidance of standards for safety, technical and design information were given free of charge by AECL (Atomic Energy Canada Limited) to India. Indigenous atomic reactors include TAPS-3, and -4, both of which are 540 MW reactors.

4. Nuclear agreements of India with other nations

India and Russia signed an agreement in 1988 for building nuclear reactors in India. Not much progress was possible in subsequent years

Due to the sudden disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 and India’s financial challenges and relevant international developments delayed the project. The project was revived in 1998 with decision to build two VVER (Water-Water Energetic Reactor) 1000 MW reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. It was the first reactor with Russian collaboration, the new 1,000 MW power plant at Kudankulam, started commercial operations in 2014.

After the NSG (nuclear supplier group) remission, France was the first country to sign an agreement with India on 30 September 2008. The agreements were signed in 2010 to set up third-generation EPR (Evolutionary Power Reactor) reactors of 1650 MW each at Jaitapur, Maharashtra by the French company Areva.

India and Mongolia signed a civil nuclear agreement on 15th June 2009 for the supply of uranium to India, making it the 5th nation in the world to seal a civil nuclear pact with India.

On 2nd September 2009, India and Namibia signed five agreements, covering one on civil nuclear energy which allows for supply of uranium from the African country.

India and Argentina signed an agreement in New Delhi on civil nuclear co-operation and nine other facts to establish the strategic partnership.

India and Canada signed a civil nuclear co-operation contract in Toronto on 28th June 2010 which when all steps are taken, will grant access for Canada’s nuclear industry to India’s expanding nuclear market and also fuel for India’s reactors.

India and Kazakhstan signed an inter-governmental agreement for the alliance in peaceful uses of nuclear energy in April 2011. This envisages a legal framework for the supply of fuel, installation, and operation of the atomic power station, exploration and joint mining of uranium, exchange of scientific and research database, reactor safety mechanisms and use of radiation technologies for healthcare.

In 2016, India has signed civil nuclear agreements with Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The bilateral Agreement was signed by Govt. of India and Japan on 11 November 2016.

India and Vietnam signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, with Govt. of India in 2016 for further strengthen of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

5. Scope of nuclear power in India

Energy Sufficiency

Currently, fossil fuels are depleted faster than they are produced, so in the future, these resources may be diminished. It may affect the price of fuel and consumption of these resources and ultimately affect the most of the population living standard. In the nuclear plant, the amount of fuel required is very less with more energy output. Currently India is importing around 80 percent of oil to meet its requirements. The projected estimate of the need of fossil fuel for energy production in 2040 will be 81 percent. According to IEA the oil demand of India will be 9.8 million barrels per day. This will lead to huge increase in oil imports and thereby increasing dependency. In order to meet this energy demand, the country has to depend on nuclear power and renewable.

Reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions

The production of electricity through nuclear source will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (CO2 and others) more as compared to fossil fuels based plants (coal and oil).

Climate independent energy source

The cost of nuclear fuel (overall uranium) is 20% of the cost of energy generated. The generation of electric power is continuous. A nuclear power plant is generating electricity for almost 90% of the annual time. It reduces the price volatility of other fuels such as petrol.

This continuity benefits the electrical planning. Nuclear power does not depend on natural aspects. It is a solution for the main disadvantage of renewable energy, like solar or wind power, because the hours of sun or wind does not regularly coincide with the times with more energy demand. By reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, we also improve the quality of the air affecting the disease and quality of life.

6. Challenges of nuclear power generation in India

The technology denial regimes adopted by many countries that either had the expertise or had harnessed nuclear energy-

Till 2008, India’s civil nuclear strategy had evolved largely without fuel or technological assistance from other nations for more than 30 years. That was due to the India’s peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE) in 1974 and refusal to sign the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) because of its inequitable nature. So it was for 34 years mostly excluded from trade in nuclear plant or matters, which has impeded its development of civil nuclear energy until 2008. In 2008, Nuclear Supplier Group removed the prohibition on member nations to deal and transfer of technology in nuclear commerce with India

Lack of the supply of high quality nuclear fuel: The indigenous uranium deposits are small. The Uranium deposits in India are about 92,000 tonnes only and are of low grade quality.

Uranium imports

India’s domestic uranium reserves are small. The country is dependent on uranium imports for the nuclear power sector. Since the early 1990s, Russia has been a major supplier of nuclear fuel to India.

Due to previous trade bans and lack of indigenous uranium, India has uniquely been developing a nuclear fuel cycle to exploit its reserves of thorium.

Nuclear Accidents

There is the uncertainty of leakage or damaging in nuclear power plants. The power generation depends on the nuclear fission reactions which is a chain reaction and if not controlled may cause radioactive explosions. The nuclear accidents at Chernobyl in USSR(1986) and the Three Mile Island in the US (1979) had revealed the dangers associated with using the nuclear atoms to generate energy. These accidents had created fear among several countries, and many countries withdraw their plans of constructing new reactors. The public and policy makers concern about safety of nuclear power increased after Fukushima nuclear accident which needs to be addressed.

7. Future plans for nuclear power generation in India

The nuclear power generation in India is projected for an eight fold increase providing 10 percent contribution to meet total electricity demand by 2022. This increase will be 70 times accounting 26 percent by 2052. The nuclear reactors planned to install in future are detailed in Table 3.

Table 3. Nuclear reactors planned to install in future

As per Atomic Energy Commission, the present Uranium reserves of 5.469 million tones can support only 570 GWe till 2025. Some efforts were taken by India to become one among topmost countries in nuclear power generation like Advances in the field of thorium-based fuels: India had large deposits of thorium in monazite (518,000 tonnes) in the beach sands of South India.

Design and develop a prototype for an atomic reactor using thorium and low-enriched uranium,India’s three stage nuclear power programme: It was formulated by Homi Bhabha in 1950s. The Stage I- Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor Stage II – Fast Breeder reactor Stage III- Thorium based reactors. LENR research activities ITER initiative on nuclear fusion programme Plutonium as nuclear fuel by reprocessing of spent fuel of first stage reactors.The uranium deposits have been discovered in the Tummalapalle belt in Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh in 2011. So far 49,000 tons of natural uranium has been discovered in the belt, which is estimated to have three times that amount. This tract of uranium reserves promises to be one of the top 20 uranium reserves discovery of the world.

India’s nuclear energy self-sufficiency increased from uranium research and mining through fuel fabrication, heavy water generation, reactor design, and construction, to reprocessing and waste management. India is planning to launch its first prototype fast breeder on plutonium of 500 MW capacity in Tamil Nadu.

The targets set by India for nuclear power generation are 14.6 GW by 2020 and 27.5 GW by 2032. The government of India plans for nuclear to generate 25% of electricity by 2050 could mean between 150 GW and 200 GW of installed nuclear capacity with a total installed capacity estimated as 43 GW. The future projected capacities of the different types of nuclear reactors are given in Table 4.

Table 4. Current and future projected capacities of nuclear reactors in India

• * PHWR- Pressurized heavy water reactor, VVER- ‘Voda Voda Energo Reactor’ meaning water-cooled, water moderated energy reactor, EPR- European Pressurized reactor (a Third generation PWR), FBR- Fast breeder reactor, AHWR- Advanced heavy water reactor, AP 10000 a PWR designed by Toshiba with passive nuclear safety .

An agreement was made with Russia in June 2017 for the units 5 & 6 of 1000 MW each with an estimated cost of INR 250 million (3.85 million US$) per MW at Kudankulam.

India nuclear power generation effort satisfies many safeguards and oversights such as getting ISO 14001 accreditation for environment management system and peer review by World Association of Nuclear Operators. Risks related to nuclear power generation prompted Indian legislators to enact the 2010. Nuclear Liability Act was enacted in 2010 that instructed nuclear suppliers, contractors and operators must bear financial responsibility in case of an accident. This act emphasize on nuclear radiation and safety regulations, operational control and maintenance management of nuclear power plants, compensation in the event of a radiation-leak accident, disaster clean-up costs, operator responsibility and supplier liability.

Conclusion

Nuclear energy is a very clean fuel for the energy production compared to fossil fuels. India has 22 nuclear reactors in operational and plan to add many more with advanced technologies from expert countries. Since 2010, a fundamental incompatibility between India’s civil liability law and international conventions limits foreign technology provision. But today India is well versed with different types of nuclear reactors that improve the energy production. India has a vision of becoming a global leader in nuclear power sector due to its expertise in fast reactors and thorium fuel cycle.