Hur kan delar av vindkraftens leverantörskedja överföras till kommersialiseringen av små modulära reaktorer? : En kvalitativ jämförande studie av standardisering, modularitet och regelverk

Sammanfattning

The global energy transition and rising electricity demand require a great expansion of fossil-free energy production. Traditional nuclear power offers stable production but is hindered by high capital costs and long construction times. Small Modular Reactors (SMR) are a smaller type of reactor intended for serial production, utilizing economies of multiples to lower investment costs compared to traditional nuclear power. SMRs are not commercialized, and a supply chain has yet to be established. This study aims to investigate how elements of the well-functioning wind power supply chain can be transferred to the commercialization of SMR. This qualitative study is based on semi-structured interviews with eight respondents from industry, academia and authorities. The interviews were complemented by a literature review. The empirical data was analyzed using the PESTEL-framework, which categorizes the macro-environment into political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors. Respondents described that solid logistical, strategic and regulatory business models are what made wind power successful. Several respondents shared the view that SMR must utilize existing industries for standard equipment and build decentralized supply chains to distribute financial risks. Type approvals, like those seen in wind power, were also discussed as a prerequisite for serial production, although challenged by a lack of international regulatory cooperation. In conclusion, three main elements from the wind power supply chain can be transferred to the commercialization of SMR: the use of standardized equipment from existing industries, decentralized supply chains for risk distribution, and reactor-based type approvals.