Evaluating the Feasibility of Modular Nuclear Reactors in the European Union: A GIS-based Multicriteria Decision Analysis Approach to Meet Paris Agreement

This study identifies all 193 operational coal-fired power plants in the EU and evaluates their suitability for conversion to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) based on Multi Criteria Decision Making Model (MCDM)
By leveraging ARC GIS software for data collection and the TOPSIS method for ranking, the study prioritizes sites for SMR construction, ensuring the most optimal locations are selected based on various geographical, infrastructure and economic criteria.
Findings suggest that converting the top 70 ranked existing coal plant sites to SMRs with could generate four times the electricity currently produced by all 193 coal plants combined, offering a significant boost to the EU's energy capacity.
The research highlights SMRs as a solution to enhance energy security considering the geopolitical tensions, while also addressing the EU's climate goals by replacing coal with low-carbon nuclear energy, especially given the current challenges with renewable energy development.