High-level Analysis of Radiological Protection Challenges Related to the Deployment of Small Modular Reactors

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) Task Force on Small Modular Reactors (TFSMR) conducted a high-level analysis of radiological protection (RP) challenges related to small modular reactor (SMR) deployment. Ten key RP challenges were identified: Small Compact Design, Source Terms, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Siting, Staffing Issues, Lack of Operating Experience (OPEX), Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), Transport, Public Risk Perception and Risk Communication, and Environmental Monitoring. A prioritisation exercise assessed these challenges based on their potential impact on RP frameworks, regulatory compliance and public confidence. Lack of OPEX, Source Terms, and Public Risk Perception were identified as the most critical, given their influence on operational safety, emergency preparedness, and stakeholder engagement. Many challenges, including Lack of OPEX and Source Terms, were found to be cross-cutting, requiring multi-faceted approaches that consider safety, operational constraints, and public acceptance.

International initiatives addressing SMRs primarily focus on technical safety and licensing requirements, often without fully integrating RP considerations. While several international efforts examine emergency planning zones (EPZs), other key RP areas, including occupational exposure and environmental monitoring, require further attention. Strengthening collaboration with international SMR initiatives, like the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Expert Group on SMRs (EGSMR), Focus Group on the Back-End of Advanced Reactors (FG-BEAR) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulators’ Forum, can enhance RP-focused dialogue within global SMR deployment frameworks.