In her budget 2024 speech, Nirmala Sitharaman laid down Rs. 25,000 crore towards the Department of Atomic Energy to explore newer avenues to generate nuclear energy. She declared government’s intent to rope in private player towards development of Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) – something which could be a game changer towards the energy security of India. Private players had hitherto been barred from involvement in nuclear energy.
But what really are Bharat Small Reactors?
All of us are more familiar with the traditional large nuclear reactors. Inside these large nuclear reactors, controlled chain reactions happen which split atoms. When atoms are split – they release heat. This heat is used to boil water. The steam coming from the water is used to rotate the turbines. These rotating turbines generate electricity.
A large nuclear reactor can generate electricity upto 5GW which is enough to power millions of households.
But these are very difficult to set up and are totally immobile. And besides, the demand for electricity isn’t always there, given the limited number of households.
Enter, the small reactors. These essentially work on the same principle as their larger counterparts but are much smaller in size and generate limited electricity. They are much easier to deploy. Also, they can be setup in remote areas where a larger reactor would be incredibly difficult to set up. While the technology is still in a nascent stage, the final deployment can not be too far away from where we stand currently. Government is aiming to generate 500 GW of energy from these small reactors.
These reactors would work on the principal of Pressurized Water Heavy Reactor (PWHR). The water used in these reactors will be kept under high pressure, turning its boiling point higher. These will greatly increase the efficiency of the reactor. PWHR is already powering 16 units in the country currently.
Now coming to the point, what stocks could benefit from this initiative?
1. NPCIL
While it is not listed, as the primary operator of nuclear power plants in India, NPCIL could play a crucial role in developing and deploying BSRs.
2. NTPC
It has a joint-venture with NPCIL to set up two nuclear power generation projects in the country.
3. BHEL
NPCIL and BHEL signed an MoU to collaborate on PHWR technology-based NuclearPower Plants.
4. Power Mech
It has recently bagged an order worth Rs 563 crore from state-owned BHEL to construct a nuclear power plant.
5. Tata Power
Tata Power announced Rs 20000 crore investment in FY25 to boost renewable energy and strengthen transmission and distribution.
The successful development and deployment of BSRs could not only bolster India’s energy security but also propel the nation towards its ambitious clean energy targets. The potential for these smaller reactors to reach remote areas, support industrial growth, and provide a reliable baseload power source could have a transformative impact on the country’s economy and overall development.