SMR STAR — Small Modular Reactor and micro-NPP
tender@starenergy.vn
SMR STAR — Small Modular Reactor and micro-NPP
SMR STAR is a 35 MWth / 10 MWe small modular nuclear reactor designed for safe, reliable and affordable clean energy. Developed through international cooperation and fully aligned with IAEA safety standards, SMR STAR is engineered for rapid deployment, high autonomy, and long refuelling intervals of 10 years.
Star Energy Vietnam, together with its global partners, is preparing the deployment of the first-of-a-kind SMR STAR unit in Vietnam as part of a long-term national strategy for clean baseload energy, industrial heat and regional electrification.
Our mission is to deliver a compact, cost-effective and inherently safe nuclear solution tailored for Vietnam and the world market — enabling sustainable development, industrial growth and energy independence.
SMR STAR (Small Modular Reactor — STAR) is a 35 MWth / 10 MWe Pressurized-Tube Water Reactor (PTWR) featuring:
- Fully passive safety systems
- Underground containment
- No-pressure vessel
- Long refuelling cycle (10 years)
- Design lifetime of 60 years
- OPEX ≤ 1.5% of CAPEX per year
The technology is based on well-proven water-cooled reactor principles and engineering solutions developed according to:
— IAEA SSR-2/1 Rev.1, SSR-4, GSR Part 2
— ISO 19443 and ASME NQA-1 quality systems
— Vietnamese TCVN/QCVN standards
The FOAK unit will serve as a reference design for large-scale deployment.
Technology Overview
The SMR STAR design incorporates:
All safety analyses (thermal-hydraulic, neutronic, radiological) demonstrate controlled behavior under conservative accident scenarios (per PSAR).
Vietnam Deployment Program
Star Energy Vietnam is implementing the first SMR STAR nuclear energy project in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The project follows the national regulatory framework under VARANS and applies the full set of IAEA safety standards.
Key goals:
- Establish Vietnam’s first commercial small modular nuclear plant
- Support industrial growth, data centers and regional energy needs
- Develop local supply chains and workforce
- Serve as a reference for future SMR STAR export projects
The project is currently in the pre-tender stage, with the EPC Turnkey Tender package being prepared (modified FIDIC Silver Book). All technical requirements, owner’s specifications and safety documentation are in place.
Full RFP publication will be announced upon completion of stakeholder consultations.
SMR STAR is designed and licensed according to the following frameworks:
-
International Standards
- IAEA SSR-2/1 Rev.1 — Design
- IAEA SSR-2/2 — Operation
- GSR Part 2 — Leadership & Management for Safety
- SSG-52 — Fuel Handling & Storage
- ASME Section III
- ISO 19443:2018 -
Vietnamese Standards
- Law on Atomic Energy (2008 and upcoming 2026)
- QCVN 06 — Fire Safety
- TCVN 9386 — Seismic Design
- EVN Grid Code -
Key Safety Features
- Fully passive emergency cooling
- Underground containment with no high-pressure components
- Negative temperature, coolant and power reactivity coefficients
- Accident scenarios limited below regulatory exposure limits
- Severe accident progression excluded by design
This design philosophy ensures high inherent safety and simplified operation.
Let’s work together
tender@starenergy.vn