PCMR (Pty) Ltd
Power Cell Micro Reactor
Our power energy producer journey started early 2010’s with the focus to provide constant carbon free power energy with the focus modular reactors.
This culminated in the registration of PCMR (Pty) Ltd in 2024, as an Independent Power Producer (IPP) focusing on the design, development, manufacture, operation, maintenance, and support, in association with other third parties, inter alia, leading South African Universities, of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) starting with a Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) named Advanced Micro Reactor (AMR) of which the concept design has been completed.
Energy Trilemma
The World Energy Council measures the energy scenario of countries in terms of the Energy Trilemma on the three dimensions of Energy Security, Energy Equity and Environmental Sustainability. The scales used on each of the three dimensions are A, B, C and D where an A presents the highest and D the lowest score. The ratings are stated in terms of the three dimensions for example (AAA) which indicates the highest ranking and (DDD) indicating the lowest. In terms of this survey that was published for 2020 [1], South Africa was rated as CBD and placed at number 74 out of the 108 countries that were evaluated. From this, South Africa is facing a massive electricity production crisis..
Technology
The approach to develop the concept is to initially focus on the physics-engineering design of the AMR with the objective to maximize its local content in terms of the acquisition of components and the utilization of existing research facilities.
The technical configuration is chosen to maximise the use of technology systems, structures and components that have been developed, qualified, and used extensively in practical applications currently, and as such are available “off-the-shelf”. The only unique part of the system is the AMR reactor with its associated heat exchanger.
The conceptual design of the AMR has been completed and shows promise to fulfil at least three of the four high-level requirements as specified by the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) for future reactors. The three requirements are: enhanced safety, minimization of radioactive waste and to improve the resistance against nuclear explosive proliferation. The one GIF requirement that cannot be evaluated at this early stage is to show that the concept will be economical and that it is sustainable in future.