Harnessing small modular reactors for sustainable development: A proxy MRV platform of carbon credit under the Paris Agreement Article 6.2

초록

This study proposes a novel pathway for generating carbon credit under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement through the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). To address the persistent challenge of establishing additionality, we introduce a Proxy Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) platform. The platform framework integrates real-time operational data with predictive SMR modeling and ISO-aligned validation methodologies, uniquely enabling the verification of emission reductions prior to physical deployment. This forward-verification capability supports the creation of high-value, future-oriented financial assets, facilitating the pre-operational monetization of carbon credits to secure early-stage project financing. A 7-day pilot operation of a 170 MWe SMR Smart Net-Zero City (SSNC) testbed achieved a weekly reduction of 11,731 tCO2eq, providing quantitative evidence from real-world demonstration that illustrates the platform's effectiveness as a tool for assessing additionality. Based on this performance, our analysis estimates that a single SMR unit could deliver a cumulative reduction of approximately 4.3 million tCO2eq, translating to a potential carbon credit value of around USD 160 million in present value. These findings position SMRs as a pivotal technology for global decarbonization and a strategic instrument under the Paris Agreement Carbon Market (PACM) Article 6.2 mechanism, accelerating progress toward achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

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