Reviewing the Possible Role of Nuclear Power in Hybrid Energy Systems for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Even though renewable energy sources (RESs), such as solar and wind, have their advantages, their intermittent nature and geographical restrictions have raised interest in hybrid energy solutions that improve efficiency and dependability through integrated systems. This study reviews nuclear–renewable hybrid energy systems (Nu-R HESs) that integrate nuclear and renewable energy technologies. The review has selected, analyzed, and critically reviewed 62 journal articles on the research area to clearly and appropriately reveal current trends of simulation and optimization projects, gaps, and future work. The study is organized into analytical categories: system architecture, energy storage solutions (ESSs), software employed, end products, and reliability and economic criteria for optimizing these hybrid systems. Existing research reveals that Nu-R HES effectively addresses renewable intermittency challenges, improves grid stability, and offers economic advantages through shared infrastructure compared to stand-alone systems. The review concludes that small modular reactors (SMRs) are the nuclear technology of choice for Nu-R HES. Their modular integration in Nu-R HES can boost technological innovation and improve performance, while economies of repeated project implementation can lower costs. Further, optimization simulations are mostly implemented through MATLAB, HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resource) software, and Modelica language.