Small Reactors in Microgrids: Technoeconomic Analysis
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Reilly Associates (United States)
- XENDEE Corporation, La Jolla, CA (United States)
This report presents the results of technoeconomic analysis that advances understanding of the potential of small modular reactors and microreactors, collectively referred to as small reactors (SRs) in this report, in microgrids. This analysis was conducted using a proxy model for SR in microgrids based on the datapoints that were identified and explored in a predecessor report “Small Reactors in Microgrids: Technical Studies Guidance.” The results and the subsequent comparative analysis in this report show that SRs could be a cost-competitive generation option when capital costs are modeled considering potential economies of scale in sizing. If the CO2 tax is imposed on carbon fuels, SRs would be even more attractive than gas generators. Then, SRs in microgrids would play a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint at the local distribution level. However, it is particularly important to identify the most suitable use cases for early adoption and the right balance of generation mix with other clean technologies as SRs achieve a level of technological and financial maturity.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1879211
- Report Number(s):
- INL/RPT-22-67704-Rev000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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