Small Modular Reactors for India’s Energy Future
Reliable, low-carbon power, designed for the needs of a growing India.
Catalyst SMR is working to advance small modular reactor (SMR) solutions for India through technology collaboration, responsible project development and engagement with the country’s regulatory framework. Our focus is to explore how advanced nuclear energy could complement India’s power system, supporting dependable electricity for industry, infrastructure and communities while contributing to long-term decarbonisation.
How a modular plant fits together
Tap a partGeneric schematic. Not a design for any specific project.
Figures reflect public government and IAEA statements and are approximate. Check current sources before relying on them.
A new approach to nuclear power
Small modular reactors are advanced nuclear power systems designed around smaller generating units and modular construction concepts. Depending on the technology and project design, they may offer options for phased development, flexible siting and integration with other energy sources.
Phased development
Capacity can be added module by module as demand grows, so investment and construction can follow the load rather than lead it.
Flexible siting
Smaller units and, in some designs, smaller emergency planning zones may widen the range of locations worth assessing, including industrial clusters.
Factory fabrication
Where designs allow, major components are built in controlled factory conditions and shipped to site, which may reduce on-site construction complexity.
Works with renewables
Firm, low-carbon output can sit alongside solar, wind and storage, and some designs can flex output or supply heat as well as power.
| Conventional large reactor | Small modular reactor | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit size | Typically about 700 to 1,600 MWe per unit | Up to about 300 MWe per unit (IAEA range); many designs are smaller |
| Construction | Largely built and assembled on site | More factory fabrication and standardisation, depending on design |
| Capacity growth | One large block of capacity at a time | Modules added in stages, matching demand |
| Siting | Large sites with substantial cooling water | Requirements vary by design; some options for dry or hybrid cooling |
| Applications | Bulk grid electricity | Grid power, industrial heat, captive supply, desalination |
| Maturity | Decades of global operating experience | Several designs operating or advancing through licensing; economics still being demonstrated |
Every project must be assessed on its own technical, economic, safety and regulatory merits. We are building the partnerships and project foundations needed to evaluate these opportunities for India.
Our India focus
India’s energy demand is expanding alongside its manufacturing, digital infrastructure and urban development. Meeting that demand will require a diverse mix of reliable energy sources.
How Catalyst SMR is exploring the potential
- Technology and engineering collaborationWorking with qualified partners on reactor concepts, safety cases and adaptation to Indian conditions.
- Feasibility studies and site assessmentStructured evaluation of sites, grid connection, cooling, logistics and project economics.
- Skills development and knowledge exchangeBuilding the engineers, technicians and operators a nuclear programme depends on.
- Engagement with Indian institutions and relevant authoritiesEarly, open dialogue with regulators, government bodies and research institutions.
- Evaluation of applications for industrial and infrastructure power needsMatching load profiles to what different SMR designs can credibly deliver.
Why firm, low-carbon power matters
Solar and wind are scaling quickly in India, and will remain central. Industry, data centres, rail and cities also need power that is available around the clock. Nuclear energy is one of the few low-carbon sources able to deliver that kind of firm supply at scale.
A sector that is evolving
The Government of India has stated an ambition of around 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, announced a Nuclear Energy Mission that includes support for SMR research and development, and enacted new legislation in 2025 (the SHANTI Act) to widen participation in the sector.
The exact scope of any participation is defined by law, rules, licences and approvals. We follow them.
Any future project would proceed only in accordance with applicable Indian laws, regulatory requirements and government approvals.
Three decades of nuclear experience, focused on India’s next chapter
Nuclear energy rewards patience, discipline and respect for evidence. Our team has spent a career working in exactly that environment.
Built inside India’s own institutions.
Catalyst SMR is led by people who have spent more than three decades in nuclear energy and who have served government organisations in India across the defence and nuclear fields. We know how the system works from the inside: the standards, the approvals, the discipline and the responsibility that come with nuclear technology.
Now we are applying that experience to a new question: how small modular reactors could serve India’s industry, infrastructure and communities, safely and in full compliance with Indian law.
What that experience brings to every project
Safety before enthusiasm
Years in fields where margins for error are small shape how we judge designs: evidence first, claims second, and independent review as standard.
Knowledge of Indian institutions
We understand how government bodies, regulators and research organisations work, and how to engage them early, openly and correctly.
A security-minded culture
Experience across the defence and nuclear sectors informs how we plan physical protection, information security and control of materials.
Long-term thinking
Nuclear programmes run for decades. We plan for fuel, people, supply chains and the full lifecycle from the first study.
Why partners talk to us
Technology providers
An India-based team that knows the landscape, can explain the regulatory path, and treats technical scrutiny as normal.
Institutions and industry
A counterpart that values training, knowledge exchange and Indian participation in engineering, construction and supply.
Authorities and communities
A team committed to transparency, to following the rules as written, and to answering hard questions plainly.
The experience described reflects the professional backgrounds of our team members. Catalyst SMR is a private company and does not represent, or act on behalf of, any government body.
How nuclear power works
A nuclear reactor is a controlled heat source. Splitting heavy atoms releases heat, and from that point the plant works like any thermal power station: heat makes steam, steam turns a turbine, and a generator makes electricity. Step through the chain.
Why so little fuel?
Fission releases millions of times more energy per atom than burning does. A kilogram of reactor fuel can release more than 100,000 times the heat of a kilogram of coal. That is why a nuclear plant needs a few truckloads of fuel a year, where a coal plant of the same size needs trains of it every day, and why fuel transport and storage are small, manageable problems compared with the fuel volumes of fossil plants.
Values are approximate. Nuclear fuel energy depends on enrichment and burnup; the figure shown assumes a typical light-water burnup of 50 GWd per tonne.
Controlling the reaction
Reactor power depends on how many neutrons go on to cause another fission. Control rods absorb neutrons. As the core heats up, physical effects also push the reaction down on their own. Move the rods, switch the feedback off, then trip the reactor.
Way–Wigner approximation after one year of operation. Illustrative 250 MWth module. Even after fission stops, the fuel keeps producing heat, so cooling must continue. This is why passive heat removal matters.
Reactor families under assessment
“SMR” covers a wide range of technologies, designs and project approaches. These are the main families we study with technical partners. Listing a family here does not mean it has been selected for any project.
What smaller can change in the design
Smaller reactors are not just scaled-down versions of large ones. Many designs use the lower power to simplify systems and lean on physical processes for safety. Which features apply depends entirely on the technology selected.
Integral primary circuit
Steam generators and pressuriser sit inside the reactor vessel in some designs, removing large external coolant pipes and the accidents associated with them.
Natural circulation
Hot coolant rises and cool coolant sinks. Some designs use this to move heat without main coolant pumps.
Lower heat and inventory
A smaller core holds less radioactive material and produces less decay heat, which makes it easier to cool without power.
Below-ground placement
Some designs place the reactor in a pool or silo below grade, adding protection against aircraft, missiles and extreme weather.
Fewer active components
Fewer pumps, valves and support systems mean fewer things to fail and maintain, in designs that pursue simplification.
Factory-tested modules
Building and testing in a controlled factory can improve quality and find defects before the module reaches the site.
Generic sequence for a design with passive decay-heat removal. Real timings and systems differ by design and must be demonstrated in the safety case.
Safety, security and responsible stewardship at every stage
These principles must guide every stage of nuclear energy development, from the first concept study to decommissioning.
Respect for India’s regulatory framework
We plan around the consents, standards and oversight the regulator requires, and engage early rather than late.
Independent technical scrutiny
Safety cases and design claims should be reviewed by qualified parties who are independent of the people proposing them.
Careful assessment of site and environmental conditions
Seismic, geological, hydrological, ecological and population factors shape whether a site is suitable at all.
Security-minded project planning
Physical protection, cyber security and material safeguards are designed in from the start, not added later.
Transparent engagement with relevant stakeholders
Communities, local authorities and institutions deserve clear information and a real channel for questions.
Responsible management of materials and lifecycle
Fuel handling, used-fuel management and decommissioning are planned for before construction begins.
Defence in depth
Nuclear safety relies on several independent layers. If one fails, the next still protects people and the environment. Select a level.
Security and safeguards
Physical protection
Layered barriers, detection and response, sized to credible threats and reviewed by the authorities.
Cyber security
Digital control systems are designed with isolation of safety functions, defence in depth and continuous monitoring.
Safeguards
Civil facilities placed under international safeguards are subject to material accounting and inspection by the IAEA.
Specific safety arrangements and project commitments depend on the technology selected, the project design and the applicable approvals.
The fuel cycle, front to back
A credible project plans for fuel from the first day. Where it comes from, how long it lasts in the reactor, and what happens afterwards all shape cost, security and public confidence.
India’s three-stage nuclear programme
India’s long-term policy links reactor types so that the output of one stage becomes the fuel of the next, with the aim of using the country’s large thorium resources. Any SMR assessment has to consider where it fits.
Pressurised heavy-water reactors
Run on natural uranium and produce plutonium in their used fuel. This is the base of India’s current fleet.
Fast breeder reactors
Use plutonium from Stage I to generate power and to breed more fuel, including uranium-233 from a thorium blanket.
Thorium-based reactors
Advanced reactors that run mainly on uranium-233 bred from thorium, aimed at long-term domestic fuel security.
How we are approaching the work
Four connected stages take an idea from technology screening to a project foundation that regulators, partners and communities can scrutinise. The order matters: each stage informs the next.
How siting trade-offs work
No site is best on every measure. Decide what matters most for a given project, and the ranking changes. Adjust the weights to see how four common kinds of location compare.
Seismic, geological and flood suitability are always site-specific and can rule a site out entirely, so they are not scored here. Scores are qualitative judgements for generic site types. No real site has been assessed or selected.
Firm power on a grid with a lot of solar
Solar peaks at noon, demand peaks in the evening. The gap is what firm, low-carbon capacity is for. Change the mix and watch the evening peak.
Synthetic profiles for illustration, not forecasts for any state or grid. Capacities are in the same units as demand. Must-run nuclear is dispatched first, so extra midday solar is curtailed. “Other” stands for hydro, gas, storage or imports.
What drives the cost of nuclear power
Nuclear is capital-heavy: most of the cost is paying back construction. That makes three things dominate the result: how much it costs to build, how cheaply it is financed, and how long construction takes. Test the levers.
Simplified model for explanation only: annualised capital with interest during construction, fixed and variable costs. It leaves out taxes, decommissioning and waste funds, grid and land costs, and inflation. First-of-a-kind SMR costs are uncertain, and cost reduction depends on repeat construction, which has to be shown in practice.
From assessment to operation
A project moves through stages, and each ends in a decision. Nothing proceeds to the next stage until the evidence supports it and the approvals are in place.
- Current focus
Phase 0 · Assessment
Screen technologies and partners. Agree what would make a project worth pursuing.
Gate: technology shortlist - Current focus
Phase 1 · Feasibility
Site, grid, cooling, workforce and economics studied in detail. Early regulator and stakeholder dialogue.
Gate: feasibility case - Subject to approvals
Phase 2 · Licensing and pre-project
Design finalised, safety case reviewed, consents sought, financing and supply chain arranged.
Gate: regulatory consent and financing - Subject to approvals
Phase 3 · Construction
Site works, module fabrication, transport, installation and commissioning under regulatory hold points.
Gate: authorisation to operate - Subject to approvals
Phase 4 · Operation and lifecycle
Operation, periodic safety review, refuelling, used-fuel management and eventual decommissioning.
Gate: ongoing regulatory oversight
Illustrative shapes only, not a Catalyst SMR schedule. Modular construction aims to move work off site and run it in parallel. First projects of any new design have often taken longer than planned, which is why repeat builds and supply-chain readiness matter.
Consents come in stages, each needing evidence
In India the nuclear regulator grants consent step by step across the life of a facility. Select a stage to see the kind of evidence usually involved. Other approvals run alongside.
| Track | What it covers | Why it matters for an SMR |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear regulator | Staged consents from siting to decommissioning, plus safety review of the design | Regulatory guidance for new SMR concepts continues to develop, so early dialogue reduces rework. |
| Environment | Environmental impact assessment, public consultation and clearance; coastal rules where relevant | Cooling water, thermal discharge and ecology shape the site and design. |
| Land, water and state | Land acquisition or lease, water allocation, state and local permissions | Smaller footprints may simplify some of these, but they still take time. |
| Liability and insurance | Civil nuclear liability and insurance arrangements under the applicable law | The legal framework was updated in 2025. Terms for operators and suppliers must be clear before commitments are made. |
| Security and safeguards | Physical protection, cyber security, material accounting and international safeguards where applicable | Designed in from the start, and reviewed independently. |
Summary for orientation only. Requirements are set by Indian law, regulations and the regulator’s guidance, which change over time. Always confirm the current rules with the relevant authority.
Where SMRs may be evaluated
Subject to technical feasibility and regulatory approval, SMRs may be evaluated for the applications below. These are areas for assessment, not confirmed project deployments.
Phased capacity planner
See how modular units could be sized and added in phases to meet a given demand. Move the sliders to test different assumptions.
*Capacity available with the largest single module out of service. Illustrative arithmetic only. Real sizing depends on the technology, load profile, availability, site limits, regulation and economics. This is not a design or a commitment.
People, institutions and long-term technical capability
A successful nuclear energy programme depends on people, institutions and long-term technical capability. We aim to support knowledge exchange and explore opportunities for Indian participation in engineering, construction, operations, research and supply chains, subject to project requirements and applicable policy.
- Engineering
- Construction
- Operations
- Research
- Supply chains
People
Training pathways for nuclear engineers, reactor operators, quality and safety specialists, and skilled trades, built with institutions that already teach these subjects.
Institutions
Joint work with universities, national laboratories and research bodies on safety analysis, materials, fuels, digital controls and environmental monitoring.
Supply chain
Mapping where Indian manufacturers can supply forgings, pumps, valves, instrumentation, civil works and services to nuclear quality standards.
Knowledge exchange
Technical secondments, workshops and shared standards so that experience from other countries is adapted to Indian conditions and rules.
Where Indian supply chains could take part
Component categories we would assess with partners. Participation depends on each project’s requirements, quality standards and applicable policy.
| Category | Examples | What we would assess |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy forgings and vessels | Reactor pressure vessel, steam generator shells | Nuclear-grade materials, qualified suppliers, inspection capability |
| Primary components | Heat exchangers, pumps, valves, piping | Quality assurance records, testing facilities, delivery capacity |
| Instrumentation and control | Protection systems, sensors, digital control | Independence, qualification, cyber security, long-term support |
| Fuel | Pellets, cladding, assemblies | Enrichment route, fabrication licence, supply security |
| Civil and modular fabrication | Foundations, structures, module assembly yards | Heavy-lift logistics, steel and concrete quality, workforce |
| Services | Engineering, inspection, maintenance, training | Qualified people and programmes at the required scale |
What could go wrong, and how we plan for it
Naming the risks early is part of responsible development. These are the main categories we track, with the way we would reduce each.
Start a conversation
We welcome discussions with technology providers, research institutions, engineering firms, industry partners and other organisations interested in the responsible evaluation of SMR opportunities in India.
Technology providers
Reactor designers and vendors seeking an India pathway.
Research institutions
Joint studies, training and independent review.
Engineering firms
Design, EPC, siting and regulatory support.
Industry partners
Energy users exploring firm, low-carbon supply.
Public bodies
Authorities and agencies engaged in energy planning.
Contact our team
Tell us who you are and what you would like to explore. We read every message and will reply to relevant enquiries.
Straight answers
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Further reading
- International Atomic Energy AgencySMR technology reports, safety standards and the Advanced Reactors Information System.
- Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, IndiaThe national nuclear safety regulator, with consenting process and safety guides.
- Department of Atomic EnergyGovernment of India department responsible for the nuclear programme.
- World Nuclear AssociationCountry profiles, fuel cycle and technology explainers.
- International Energy AgencyEnergy system analysis, including nuclear and the cost of power.
Information on this website describes exploratory and development activities. It is not an announcement of an approved nuclear power project, a guarantee of project delivery, or an offer to sell securities or investment products. Project scope, technology, location, schedule and capacity may change as assessments and regulatory processes progress.