Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Fully Develop Small Modular Reactors, Targeting Commercialization in Japan

Against the backdrop of the Japanese government's push to expand nuclear energy utilization, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has decided to proceed with full-scale development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with the goal of achieving commercial application in Japan. This is seen as a significant step forward by a Japanese private enterprise toward the practical deployment of SMRs.

The Basic Energy Plan approved by Japan's Cabinet last year proposes maximizing the use of nuclear energy. At a ministerial meeting held last week, the Japanese government once again confirmed its commitment to advancing the research, development, and deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors.

SMRs represent one of the technology pathways for next-generation nuclear reactors. Due to their smaller unit size and higher degree of modularization, the industry generally recognizes advantages in safety design, construction timelines, and installation costs. Countries such as Canada and the United States are already advancing related introduction and deployment plans.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has previously been developing "innovative light-water reactors," a new generation of reactors that further strengthen safety measures based on existing nuclear power plant technologies. With support from the Japanese government, the company will now incorporate SMRs into its key research and development focus areas, and will study safety measures against natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, tailored to the needs of domestic application in Japan.

According to the Japanese government's vision, SMRs are expected to enter operation in the 2040s. However, the actual deployment of this technology in Japan still faces challenges in areas such as public awareness, social acceptance, and construction conditions. Whether Japan's SMR commercialization process can accelerate with private enterprises launching full-scale development remains to be further observed.