Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities
India's escalating energy requirements, anticipated to surpass 2500 TWh by the year 2030, are primarily fulfilled through coal, which consequently leads to substantial carbon emissions and poses risks to energy security. This research endeavors to explore the function of nuclear energy as a via...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Results in Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025011806 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849314404178329600 |
|---|---|
| author | Christopher Selvam D Yuvarajan D Sunil Kumar M KrishnaKumar Shukla Chintan Patel Bhanu Juneja SarojKumar Acharya |
| author_facet | Christopher Selvam D Yuvarajan D Sunil Kumar M KrishnaKumar Shukla Chintan Patel Bhanu Juneja SarojKumar Acharya |
| author_sort | Christopher Selvam D |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | India's escalating energy requirements, anticipated to surpass 2500 TWh by the year 2030, are primarily fulfilled through coal, which consequently leads to substantial carbon emissions and poses risks to energy security. This research endeavors to explore the function of nuclear energy as a viable, low-carbon substitute within the framework of India's energy transition. Notwithstanding its elevated capacity factor (>85 %), nuclear energy presently accounts for a mere 3 % of the nation's electricity generation as of 2024. The investigation presents a thorough evaluation of India’s nuclear infrastructure, which comprises 22 operational reactors (6780 MW) and strategic initiatives aimed at augmenting capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031. The study accentuates pivotal technological innovations such as Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), small modular reactors (SMRs), and the utilization of India’s vast thorium reserves (846,000 tonnes) as integral components of the three-stage nuclear program. It further analyzes obstacles, including constraints on the supply of uranium, rigorous regulatory frameworks, and societal opposition. Through an international comparative analysis and policy assessment, this research delineates pathways for the enhancement of nuclear development, encompassing regulatory reforms, public engagement strategies, increased investment in research and development (R&D), participation from the private sector, and fostering global collaboration. The results emphasize the essential role of nuclear energy in fulfilling India's net-zero emissions objective by 2070 while simultaneously bolstering energy security and fostering technological self-sufficiency. The reinforcement of nuclear infrastructure is crucial for the decarbonization of India’s power sector. This study proffers evidence-based recommendations to facilitate policy formulation, planning, and investment choices directed towards achieving a resilient and sustainable energy future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-37bba7cabbce4f0fa3e90195b21e2c5f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-37bba7cabbce4f0fa3e90195b21e2c5f2025-08-20T03:52:28ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-06-012610510510.1016/j.rineng.2025.105105Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunitiesChristopher Selvam D0Yuvarajan D1Sunil Kumar M2KrishnaKumar Shukla3Chintan Patel4Bhanu Juneja5SarojKumar Acharya6Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Ramanagara District, Karnataka, IndiaMaharishi School of Science & Humanities, Maharishi University of Information Technology, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Automobile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Parul Institute of Technology, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, IndiaCentre for Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab 140401, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, IndiaIndia's escalating energy requirements, anticipated to surpass 2500 TWh by the year 2030, are primarily fulfilled through coal, which consequently leads to substantial carbon emissions and poses risks to energy security. This research endeavors to explore the function of nuclear energy as a viable, low-carbon substitute within the framework of India's energy transition. Notwithstanding its elevated capacity factor (>85 %), nuclear energy presently accounts for a mere 3 % of the nation's electricity generation as of 2024. The investigation presents a thorough evaluation of India’s nuclear infrastructure, which comprises 22 operational reactors (6780 MW) and strategic initiatives aimed at augmenting capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031. The study accentuates pivotal technological innovations such as Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), small modular reactors (SMRs), and the utilization of India’s vast thorium reserves (846,000 tonnes) as integral components of the three-stage nuclear program. It further analyzes obstacles, including constraints on the supply of uranium, rigorous regulatory frameworks, and societal opposition. Through an international comparative analysis and policy assessment, this research delineates pathways for the enhancement of nuclear development, encompassing regulatory reforms, public engagement strategies, increased investment in research and development (R&D), participation from the private sector, and fostering global collaboration. The results emphasize the essential role of nuclear energy in fulfilling India's net-zero emissions objective by 2070 while simultaneously bolstering energy security and fostering technological self-sufficiency. The reinforcement of nuclear infrastructure is crucial for the decarbonization of India’s power sector. This study proffers evidence-based recommendations to facilitate policy formulation, planning, and investment choices directed towards achieving a resilient and sustainable energy future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025011806Nuclear energy securityWasteWaste reductionWaste-to-ValueWaste-to- Energy |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Selvam D Yuvarajan D Sunil Kumar M KrishnaKumar Shukla Chintan Patel Bhanu Juneja SarojKumar Acharya Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities Results in Engineering Nuclear energy security Waste Waste reduction Waste-to-Value Waste-to- Energy |
| title | Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities |
| title_full | Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities |
| title_fullStr | Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities |
| title_short | Harnessing nuclear energy for India's energy security: Current status, challenges, and future opportunities |
| title_sort | harnessing nuclear energy for india s energy security current status challenges and future opportunities |
| topic | Nuclear energy security Waste Waste reduction Waste-to-Value Waste-to- Energy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025011806 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christopherselvamd harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities AT yuvarajand harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities AT sunilkumarm harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities AT krishnakumarshukla harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities AT chintanpatel harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities AT bhanujuneja harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities AT sarojkumaracharya harnessingnuclearenergyforindiasenergysecuritycurrentstatuschallengesandfutureopportunities |