Affiliation:
1. University of Michigan
2. Boston Atomics, LLC.
Abstract
Abstract
Small nuclear modular reactors (SMRs) offer a unique solution to the challenge of decarbonizing mid- and high-temperature industrial processes. We develop deployment pathways for four SMR designs serving industrial heat processes at 925 facilities across the United States under diverse policy and factory and onsite learning conditions. We find that widespread SMR deployment in industry requires natural gas prices above $6/MMBtu or aggressive carbon taxes. At natural gas prices of $6 to $10/MMBtu, 5 to 51 GWt of SMRs could be economically deployed by 2050, reducing annual emissions by up to 59 million mt CO2e. Large, lower temperature SMRs are deployed at lower natural gas prices, while microreactors and higher temperature designs become dominant at higher prices. Policy levers like subsidies are not effective at incentivizing sustainable deployment, but aggressive carbon taxes and investment tax credits provide effective support for SMR success. Large-scale SMR deployment hinges on factory, not onsite, learning.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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