India sees nuclear power generation to surge 70% by 2029

Capacity will expand to 13.08 GWe.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s Nuclear Power generation capacity will increase by around 70 % in the next 5 years as it expands its capacity by building new facilities. 

He made the statement during the first atomic energy-related meeting to review the 100-day Action Plan of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). 

According to Singh, India’s installed capacity is at 7.48 gigawatt-electric (GWe). It will increase to 13.08 GWe by 2029 with the addition of seven new reactors. 
 
He directed the department to integrate and collaborate to harness full potential by capacity building and sharing of knowledge, resources and expertise.

“Indigenous technology development and promoting energy security should be our priority,” he added.

Singh said the government is designing the 220-megawatt (MW) Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor to use a Bharat Small Reactor for captive nuclear power generation. He also said the DAE is working on the 220 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor that will use light water-based reactors by replacing Calandria with a pressure vessel.

There are also efforts to complete the initial fuel loading of the Prototype Fast Breeder reactor, the first fast breeder reactor to produce more fuel than it consumes, he added.

Singh emphasised that “development in radiation technology will lead to the economic and societal benefit of common citizens and promote ease of living and promote research in basic, applied and translational sciences using subatomic particles.”