BAHRAIN’S potential to tap into nuclear energy to generate electricity, desalination and hydrogen production was highlighted by experts yesterday.
Speaking during a think tank talk titled ‘Future Pathways for Nuclear Energy in Bahrain’, a panel discussed the country potentially adopting a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in the future as part of efforts to go green.
The talks were organised by the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) at its headquarters in Awali.
Bapco Energies industrial decarbonisation and energy efficiency strategy manager Dr Mahmood Ebrahim stated that Bahrain would probably acquire a ‘Generation III or IV SMR.’
“Gen III models are the first ones that are coming to the market,” he added.
“As it has a low temperature, it can only be used to generate electricity, and comes with a simplified design with increased safety features.
“It is easier to integrate them into our grid and can be installed in stages.
“Gen IV, however, has a higher long-term potential in also producing heat, hydrogen and can be used in desalination.
“It has lower pressure, is easy to reuse and comes in a wide range of design variants.
“Cost estimates are difficult for SMRs in general, as what applies to one country may not necessarily apply to another.”
An SMR is a nuclear fission reactor that is smaller and has a lower output than traditional reactors.
They are built in factories, transported to operational sites and assembled on-site. Individual components or modules can be replaced or upgraded as needed.
Bahrain, like the rest of the GCC, has recently made a push towards nuclear energy, especially as the kingdom looks to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Last month, as part of the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the US, Bahrain and Washington signed a co-operation agreement in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.
This is not the first time Bahrain has looked into nuclear technology.
In 2011, several GCC countries began to seriously consider nuclear energy as a potential component of their energy diversification strategies.
Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan that same year, Bahrain and Kuwait withdrew, citing safety concerns.
Since then, however, the UAE opened the $32 billion Barakah nuclear power plant in multiple stages, the most recent one being on March 23 last year, and now generates around 5,600 megawatts, or rough 25 per cent of the country’s electricity.
Derasat energy and environmental studies programme director Dr Abdulla Alabbassi said that Bahrain might consider using nuclear energy alongside renewable sources in order to get the best possible outcome.
“Bahrain is the canary in the coalmine,” said Dr Alabbassi.
“There is a depletion of natural gas and oil resources along with a growing local energy demand.
“If a reactor is to be built in Bahrain, we need to consider a Buffer Zone and an Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ).
“For reactors normally, we need a 5km Buffer Zone and a 16km EPZ, which would generate Bahrain around 9.86 Terawatt-hour per year.
“To get the same result from just solar, for example, we require about an 8km radius.
“However, if we utilise an SMR in Bahrain in conjunction with solar, we will only need a buffer zone of 0.5km and an EPZ of 2km to get the same result.”
Meanwhile, Bahrain University department chair and associate professor of chemical engineering Dr Mohamed Bin Shams explained some challenges the kingdom could face in its nuclear endeavour.
“Nuclear power is a significant endeavour that typically spans 10 to 15 years of preparatory work and a long-term commitment of around 100 years,” he said.
“We need national institutions, the creation of a legal and regulatory framework, financial strategies, a way to manage radioactive waste and more.
“There is also a need to educate people on nuclear technology, and keep them informed as people are scared of things they don’t know about.
“Bahrain will evaluate all available options and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))