Global interest grows in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for clean energy; Bulgaria is exploring adoption via government analysis and private ventures.
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The global interest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is reaching Bulgaria, with the Ministry of Energy planning to include their development in the new energy strategy with a 2050 horizon. SMR technology, which can have capacities up to 300 MW and be flexible for adaptive power management, has existed since the mid-20th century but remains largely future-oriented. Internationally, there are about 70 SMR projects across six types, though only two are currently operational.
The current global relevance of SMRs stems from the growing need for clean energy as Europe phases out fossil fuels; while solar and wind cannot guarantee supply security or balancing, nuclear power provides necessary baseload capacity, and SMRs offer maneuverability. Furthermore, data centers, AI, and cryptocurrencies are projected to account for 4% of global electricity consumption by 2026. The European Commission is developing an SMR strategy, potentially increasing funding through InvestEU to mitigate initial deployment risks.
In Bulgaria, while private industry is actively researching specific technologies, government action has been slow until the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) will commission a comparative analysis of available SMR technologies with external help from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). Separately, another state energy company signed an agreement with NuScale Power to analyze installing its SMRs at the existing Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant site, but concrete progress has stalled. The “Maritsa East” coal complex is also being considered as a potential future site for SMR installation within Bulgaria’s 2050 strategy.
Privately, Blue Bird Energy, backed by major construction firms, formed a joint venture with the Polish group Synthos Green Energy to build one of Europe’s first BWRX-300 sites in Bulgaria, relying on private investment rather than public funds. Regulatory bodies are still preparing for SMR licensing, which is expected to be a different and longer process than for large conventional reactors.
Internationally, Romania appears advanced with a project involving six SMRs supported by the government, though it faces financial scrutiny. China has a strategy targeting SMR deployment on retiring coal power plant sites between 2028 and 2033. France is integrating SMR/Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) concepts into its broader nuclear revival, focusing partly on heat generation rather than just electricity, but faces challenges in financing and technical standardization. Greece is exploring SMRs as part of a wider energy mix analysis, while Austria, despite being anti-nuclear, shows shifting public sentiment toward the need for energy security.
Critics across various regions question the high costs, licensing complexity, and risk of diverting public resources from proven renewable technologies, particularly in seismically active areas like Greece. Experts caution that SMRs may be “big balloons” due to strong national interests and differing regulatory frameworks, highlighting issues with supply chains and the need for standardized approaches.
