US Funds Thai SMR Feasibility Study

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Thailand's Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) signed an agreement on September 14 in Bangkok to fund a feasibility study for small modular reactor (SMR) deployment. The study will assist EGAT in evaluating potential locations, costs, and regulatory steps necessary for implementing SMR technologies, which are projected to generate around 600 MWe.

The study will be vendor-neutral, considering reactor designs from multiple companies, including GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale, TerraPower, Westinghouse, and X-Energy. The USTDA will issue a request for proposals for this study to interested firms from the United States. This funding aligns with the USTDA's mission to connect companies from the United States with export opportunities in emerging markets by supporting early-stage infrastructure projects.

Narin Phoawanich, Governor of EGAT, stated that the grant provides a foundation for Thailand to assess SMR technology's role in strengthening energy security and promoting a cleaner energy future. Thomas Hardy, Deputy Director and Acting Director of the USTDA, emphasized that this partnership advances the commitment of the United States to innovation and leadership in advanced civil nuclear energy, supporting the deployment of advanced technologies globally.

This initiative follows a previous USTDA announcement in February, which provided USD2.7 million in funding for technical assistance to Meralco PowerGen Corp to evaluate SMR designs and develop an implementation roadmap for the Philippines' first SMR nuclear power plant. Thailand's government has identified SMR deployment as a component of its long-term power development strategy. In June 2025, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power also signed a memorandum of understanding with EGAT to cooperate on SMRs and explore their feasibility for future projects in Thailand.

NTPC Targets 50 GW Nuclear Capacity by 2047, Evaluates SMRs

NTPC Ltd, India's largest power producer, aims to develop 50 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. This target constitutes half of India's broader 100 GW nuclear objective and signifies a strategic shift for the state-run utility. Nuclear power is emerging as a key long-term growth option for NTPC to ensure clean, non-intermittent baseload electricity.

The company is collaborating with multiple international technology providers and simultaneously enhancing its in-house technical expertise. While actively evaluating Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies, NTPC does not foresee their widespread commercial deployment in the near term. The capital-intensive nuclear developments will operate under a cost-plus economic model, designed to mitigate financial risks associated with long project timelines and significant initial investments. The ultimate scale of these projects will also depend on state support for demand.

ACME Solar Commissions Hybrid Project in India

ACME Solar Holdings Ltd, through its subsidiaries, has commissioned 66.68 MW of solar capacity and 300 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. This development increases ACME Solar's total operational BESS capacity to 4.16 GWh and its total operational renewable energy generation to approximately 3,057 MW.

The newly commissioned solar capacity, brought online by ACME Renewtech Private Limited in Kelan Village, Bikaner, represents Phase-I of ACME Solar's first hybrid renewable energy development. This project combines 300 MW of solar capacity with 100 MW of wind power. The 66.68 MW commissioned in this initial phase accounts for over 22 percent of the total 300 MW solar component.

The hybrid project has secured a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NTPC Limited and long-term project debt from PFC. ACME Solar anticipates commissioning the full 300 MW of solar capacity by the end of the third quarter of FY27. Additionally, ACME Greentech Seventh Private Ltd commissioned Phase-I of the storage infrastructure for its Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy (FDRE) project at the same site, providing 53.63 MW / 300 MWh of storage capacity out of a planned 300 MW / 1,581 MWh.