Eskom pins hopes on small nuclear power stations, says generation head

Eskom is planning for small nuclear reactors and gas to power up the South African economy as coal stations reach the end of their design life, its head of generation Bheki Nxumalo said.

He noted that Eskom has been working with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) on a pilot project for 100 megawatts (MW) of small modular reactors (SMRs). "This has created so much excitement, even for myself. I have never been so excited to work with generation - if I look at the possibility of bringing nuclear into our coal field as well... then people [will] start saying 'there is future here,'" he said.

The executive spoke at a leadership webinar hosted by the South African National Energy Association last week. These new nuclear projects are part of a greater plan to ensure a just transition to clean energy for employees.

Nxumalo said the 2019 integrated resources plan - the country's road map for energy planning - initially indicated that five power stations would have to close down by 2023. "That had so much impact on people," he said. It created a sense of fear among employees, given their uncertain future. To address this, Nxumalo said Eskom's management had to appeal to the board and government not to close the stations, especially while the country was experiencing its highest intensity of load shedding.

This intervention, which was eventually approved to ensure energy security in the short term, "settled the nerves" of employees.

But this was just one part of the solution.



Developing own clean energy

Given that five years isn’t a very long time, Eskom had to start seriously considering its own development of clean energy - not just renewables like solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind but also nuclear, Nxumalo said.

Eskom went back to the national treasury to request permission to develop new projects. Conditions had been put in place by treasury - in relation to its R254 billion Eskom debt takeover - preventing the power utility from borrowing to finance new generation projects.

The company received the go-ahead for the development, which was also approved by its board.

Eskom will partner with the private sector on the development of new power projects. The company, for example, issued a tender for the development of a 75 MW solar plant at its Lethabo power station in the Free State. The aim is to develop the new generation ahead of the coal power station's decommissioning. That way it would support job creation.

"We are in a very exciting position as Eskom. We have a team doing development on all our sites - PVs and battery storage," he said. Nxumalo added that storage projects are especially important to ensure grid stability for the future. Eskom is also looking to deploy gas projects - and sees itself playing a meaningful role in the country's broader gas plans.

"We know [coal] stations will have to close by 2030. If we do not start aggressively now, when we come to 2030, we will still be crying."



SMR pilot

Eskom is particularly keen to explore the use of SMRs.

The South African government's latest determination to procure 2 500 MW of new nuclear power allows for a 2 400 MW large-scale project and 100 MW small-scale or SMRs, he said.

Eskom wants to have the SMRs based at existing coal power plants, especially as the latter reach the end of their design life, News24 previously reported. "These SMRs or small reactors can be placed anywhere," Nxumalo said.

SMRs are not yet commercially viable, but Nxumalo previously said that from 2030, these reactors should start coming on stream. But all eyes are on the government which has to make the final call.

The department of energy is leading the process to procure new nuclear, including the SMR pilot, Eskom told News24. "This programme and process will kick-start once government has given the approval."

All nuclear plants would require a licence from the National Nuclear Regulator.

SMRs that rely on pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology have been around for a long time, in the form of compact reactors on nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and ice-breakers, explained Dr Derik Wolvaardt of Lesedi Nuclear Services.

Land-based versions of this technology, however, are new.

"Russia and China have constructed and are already operating integrated PWR and high-temperature gas reactors," Wolvaardt said. These can reach temperatures of about 1 000 degrees Celsius.

"There are about 70 new SMR projects under development around the world at the moment. They range in power from micro-reactors (1- 10 MWe) to larger reactors (300 Mwe)."

MWe is one million watts of electric capacity.

Most of these new SMR projects rely on integrated PWR and high-temperature gas, among others.

Wolvaardt said it makes sense to replace existing coal-fired power plants that are going to be decommissioned with SMRs. It would reduce the capital costs of additional infrastructure - like water and transmission lines that are already onsite.

However, critics have pointed out the risks associated with nuclear, while also highlighting that uranium mining and nuclear waste will hit the environment.

Nxumalo noted that Eskom would also encourage studies in nuclear engineering and other fields to ensure the required skills are available for new-generation projects. "Most universities don’t have a course like nuclear engineering," he said. If the county is going to be rolling out more nuclear, there can't only be one or two institutions offering courses, he added.

"We will issue bursaries as Eskom to make sure we are building for the future."



- News24