DUBAI – The role of nuclear power solutions is crucial in tackling climate change, said Kirill Komarov, First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business at Rosatom.
Komarov spotlighted Rosatom’s diverse and sustainable energy solutions, including small modular reactors (SMRs), which are designed to enable regions with less developed electricity grids to reduce emissions quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably.
Highlighting the significance of SMRs, Komarov pointed out their potential in decarbonizing remote communities, islands, and industrial and mining sites that are challenging to connect to the grid. He noted that these areas often depend on diesel generators, which emit more carbon and pollutants than coal.
“Today, most of them are powered mainly by diesel generators, which are even more carbon-intensive and polluting than coal. It may sound small and niche, but across the world, it all adds up to a significant problem: about 1.5-2 gigatons of CO2 emissions,” said Komarov.
Komarov also addressed the increasing importance of flexibility in energy markets, a feature that SMR technology offers. This adaptability allows for the deployment of nuclear power in locations where conventional nuclear power plants, typically exceeding 1GW capacity, are too large to be practical.
“In the context of energy transition, flexibility is gaining more traction in the energy markets. This is exactly what small modular reactor technologies offer. They enable us to bring nuclear power to places where conventional nuclear plants are too large,” Komarov stated.
According to Komarov, with serial production, streamlined operational processes, and a 60-year life cycle, the costs of SMRs become competitive with traditional energy sources. He views them as a reliable option for the future’s clean energy mix and as a solution to replace carbon-intensive generation fleets to achieve carbon neutrality.
“By 2030, we aim to have at least five RITM-200 power units operational, including one land-based unit in Yakutia and four as part of a floating power station in the Arctic,” stated Komarov.
Komarov emphasized Rosatom’s unique standing in the SMR market, highlighting its diverse product range. This includes the world’s first floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, as well as the pioneering series-produced 55MW RITM-200 reactors. These reactors are utilized in nuclear icebreakers and for both onshore and offshore energy applications.
“Rosatom is the only vendor globally offering a variety of small modular reactor products, encompassing not just a single reactor type but also smaller-scale applications,” Komarov added.
Komarov reiterated Rosatom’s dedication to nuclear energy as a vital component for a sustainable and prosperous energy future. While the company is actively developing renewable energy sources, including wind power and energy storage solutions, it firmly believes in the central role of nuclear energy in the green energy mix. “We are convinced that nuclear energy is essential for a sustainable and prosperous future for humanity. Although Rosatom is advancing in renewable energy, wind power, and energy storage, we are certain that nuclear energy will maintain a central position in the green energy mix,” Komarov commented.