Frederick Uni Evaluates Small Modular Reactor Feasibility

According to Cyprus Mail, the H₂Zero Research Unit examined the Levelised Cost of Electricity, Levelised Cost of Water, and Levelised Cost of Hydrogen across multiple reactor configurations and economic scenarios, evaluating how Small Modular Reactors fit within an integrated energy-water-hydrogen system.

The analysis varied reactor capacity from 50 to 600 megawatts electric, alongside capital costs, discount rates, and operational load factors, to determine competitive viability under different conditions. Findings indicate electricity generation costs ranging from approximately 90 US dollars per megawatt-hour for smaller installations down to roughly 46 dollars per megawatt-hour at larger scales, demonstrating the impact of economies of scale and technological learning curves.

Water desalination powered by Small Modular Reactors was assessed at 0.65 to 0.43 US dollars per cubic metre, while so-called pink hydrogen production costs ranged from 6.95 to 3.76 US dollars per kilogram of hydrogen.

Accelerated Decarbonisation Timeline

The modelling demonstrated that integrating Small Modular Reactors with renewable energy sources and electricity interconnections significantly accelerates decarbonisation timelines. The electricity sector could achieve full decarbonisation considerably earlier than under renewable-only scenarios, Cyprus Mail reports.

Pink hydrogen production using Small Modular Reactors could begin at scale after 2035, complementing green hydrogen and enabling total annual production reaching several hundred thousand tonnes by 2060. Co-locating desalination and hydrogen facilities reduces infrastructure expenditure by between 20 and 30 per cent.

The study also highlighted potential applications beyond traditional power generation. The reactors’ capacity to deliver stable, round-the-clock baseload power makes them particularly suitable for network-scale data centres and artificial intelligence processing facilities requiring guaranteed availability and predictable long-term energy costs—demands that variable renewable sources cannot consistently satisfy.

Regulatory and Public Acceptance Barriers

Nuclear safety licensing, radioactive waste management, fuel supply security, public acceptance, and first-of-a-kind financing risks remain the primary obstacles to deployment. Dedicated regulatory frameworks aligned with European nuclear safety standards and the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy are essential prerequisites.

The research recommends incorporating Small Modular Reactors into a technology-neutral energy strategy that treats them as complementary to renewables and storage systems. Early development of licensing and site selection frameworks, coordination with electrolysis facilities and desalination plants, and phased deployment guided by rigorous technology and financial readiness assessments are also advised.

Andreas Poullikkas, Professor of Energy Systems at Frederick University’s School of Engineering and Head of the H₂Zero Research Unit, stated that the analysis demonstrates competitive production costs under realistic conditions, particularly at larger capacities with stable financing arrangements. He told Cyprus Mail that realising this potential requires timely resolution of waste management, secure fuel supply chains, and sustained public engagement.

The key message is clear: Small Modular Reactors are not intended to replace renewable energy sources, Poullikkas emphasized, describing them instead as a vital, stable low-carbon component within a diversified strategy aimed at decarbonisation, energy security, water resilience, and sustainable economic development.

Frederick University has operated as an internationally recognised higher education institution since 2007, building on six decades of educational activity in Cyprus.

With information from Cyprus Mail