Nuclear microreactors: Status review and potential applications; the Mexican case

Abstract

Microreactors are a class of small modular reactor with a typical power output up to 10 MWe. Their factory fabricated, transportable, and self-regulating design makes the microreactors suitable for supplying electricity to off-grid communities, emergency situations, and space and naval applications. Likewise, microreactors are appropriate for non-power applications such as hydrogen and synthetic fuels production, high and low temperature process heat, various industries (mining, cement, etc.), district heating, and water desalination. Many microreactor concepts are under development around the world with different nuclear technologies, such as the Micro Modular Reactor, a high temperature gas-cooled reactor; Aurora, a liquid metal-cooled fast reactor; and eVinci, a heat pipe-cooled reactor, among others. A recent market assessment of microreactors, conducted by the Idaho National Laboratory, identifies five potential markets for microreactors: Isolated Operations, Distributed Energy, Resilient Urban, Disaster Relief, and Marine Propulsion. In the case of Mexico, which remains dependent on fossil fuels for its energy supply (oil covers 44% of the energy source, while natural gas covers 38% and coal 3%), all potential markets are attractive to consider deploying microreactors, particularly Isolated Operations and Distributed Energy, due to its industrial sector and remote/isolated communities. Mexico’s mining cement, and iron and steel industries are the major consumers of electricity, which is generated primarily with fossil fuels. Similarly, oil accounts for 99.7% of the energy mix of the national transport sector. Furthermore, isolated regions in Mexico, such as the state of Baja California Sur, which generates its own electricity mainly with natural gas, fuel oil, and diesel, could implement microreactors, not only as a potential solution for their electricity supply, but also to implement cogeneration application as water desalination.