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Academic Urges Thailand to Prepare for SMR Technology

Academic Urges Thailand to Prepare for SMR Technology

Khaosod•Economy•32m ago

Reader Briefing

Professor Dr. Somboon Ratsamee urges Thailand to accelerate legal frameworks and personnel development to prepare for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology within the next 10 years.

  • •Professor Dr. Somboon Ratsamee spoke at the 'NEW ENERGY FOR THAILAND' seminar organized by Matichon.
  • •SMRs are defined by the IAEA as modular nuclear power plants ranging from 50 to 470 megawatts.
  • •Approximately 10 SMR technologies are expected to reach prototype or actual power delivery stages within 10 years.
  • •Thailand needs to urgently develop legal frameworks, technology transfer processes, and nuclear experts.

Overview

  • •Professor Dr. Somboon Ratsamee discussed SMRs as a flexible, small-scale energy solution during the 'NEW ENERGY FOR THAILAND' seminar organized by Matichon.
  • •The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines SMRs as modular nuclear power plants with capacities from 50, 100, 150 up to 300 or 470 megawatts.
  • •SMRs offer high flexibility, are produced in factories as ready-to-install units to lower costs, and can produce heat between 100 and 900 degrees Celsius for industrial use and hydrogen production.
  • •There are currently 70-80 SMR technology developers globally across Europe, America, South Korea, and Japan.
  • •Professor Dr. Somboon Ratsamee expects technology maturity to occur within the next 5-10 years, with about 10 technologies entering prototype or operational stages in 10 years.
  • •Professor Dr. Somboon Ratsamee urges Thailand to incorporate SMRs into plans now because infrastructure cannot be completed within 2-3 years.
  • •Thailand must urgently push for legal frameworks, establish technology transfer screening processes, and produce nuclear engineers through educational institutions.
  • •Professor Dr. Somboon Ratsamee states Thailand needs its own research team to assess risks and select the most appropriate technology for the country's context.

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Key Quotes

Somboon Ratsamee
"The maturity of the technology will definitely occur in the next 5-10 years; therefore, I think we are not in a position to just wait and ignore it."
ความ Maturity (ความสุกงอม) ของเทคโนโลยีกำลังจะเกิดขึ้นในช่วง 5-10 ปีข้างหน้าแน่ๆ เพราะฉะนั้น ผมคิดว่าเราไม่อยู่ในสถานะที่จะรอดูแล้วละเลยมัน

Key Entities

Person

Somboon Ratsamee(สมบูรณ์ รัศมี)
Head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University.

Organization

Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University(คณะวิศวกรรมศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)ℹ️
The academic institution where Somboon Ratsamee serves as Head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering.
Matichon(มติชน)ℹ️
The editorial team that organized the NEW ENERGY FOR THAILAND seminar.
International Atomic Energy Agency(ทบวงการปรมาณูระหว่างประเทศ)ℹ️
The organization that provides the definition for Small Modular Reactors (SMR).