Nuclear energy 2.0: Why small modular reactors are the industry’s next big thing

The nuclear power industry is experiencing a paradigm shift, moving away from colossal, high-cost projects towards more compact and economical alternatives.

In response to the global climate crisis and the urgent need to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, both nuclear energy and renewable sources are gaining renewed attention as crucial elements.

At the forefront of this transformation are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), an innovative technology that can deliver more affordable power generation compared to conventional nuclear plants.

These innovative reactors are designed to address the chronic problems that have long plagued large-scale nuclear facilities, potentially resolving some of the industry’s most enduring obstacles.

SMRs typically produce no more than 300 megawatts of power, with some designs generating as little as 20 megawatts – enough to power a large factory or a residential neighborhood. This scalability is one of the key advantages of SMRs.

Flexibility and cost-effectiveness in nuclear power

Professor Esam Hussein of the University of Regina told Interesting Engineering how SMRs can be modular.

“If you need, for example, 1200MW electric, you don’t need to acquire a 1200MW electric big reactor with all the high capital costs and so on. with all the high capital costs. You acquire, say, 300MW and, if the need arises, you acquire another 300MW. Then you keep building up until you reach the desired power. And that provides what’s what we’re calling the economy of multiples rather than economies of scale,” Hussein said.

Secondly, they utilize factory-built modules: reactor components are manufactured off-site and assembled on location, potentially reducing construction time and costs.

Modular design and construction isn’t new, but its application to nuclear power plants represents a significant shift in the industry.

Bret Kugelmass, CEO of Last Energy , highlighted the economic challenges that led to this rethinking of nuclear power plant design: “At some point you hit a threshold where just due to the construction complexity of these giant mega projects, they all started running over price, over budget, over time by huge margins. You start a project thinking that it was going to be 5 billion and all of a sudden it’s 15 billion,” he told IE.

This unpredictability in costs and timelines has made large nuclear projects increasingly difficult to justify. SMRs aim to address these issues by incorporating new technologies and design philosophies, including passive safety systems, autonomous and digital control, and simplified designs that reduce fixed costs.

It’s estimated that over 60 firms worldwide are developing SMRs. Established players like Rolls Royce and Westinghouse, alongside innovative startups like Last Energy in the United States, are in the mix.

Tailored solutions for diverse energy needs

Last Energy is developing micro-power generation reactors with a 20MW capacity. Kugelmass explained their design rationale: “Our choice of 20MW was actually an optimization across several different parameters. We wanted to make everything road transportable and manufacturable on steel skids, almost Lego block like construction increments,” he said.

This 20MW size aligns well with industrial and municipal power needs, such as data centers, pulp and paper factories, and standard municipalities of approximately 20,000 homes. The design is also scalable for larger cities by combining multiple units.

While no commercial SMRs are currently in operation, Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov represents the closest equivalent. This floating nuclear power and heating plant is berthed in the Arctic port of Pevek, providing electricity and heat for a town of 4,000 people, with the capacity to supply Energy for a population of 100,000.

Last Energy aims to have its first fully functional, nuclear-fueled reactor operational by 2026 or 2027. Other manufacturers are working on similar timelines, driven by the urgency of addressing climate change.

Safety and waste management

Nuclear power boasts an impressive safety record, with only three serious accidents in approximately 20,000 reactor years of operation. Modern SMR designs incorporate advanced safety features, including inherently safe fuel designs (e.g., TRISO fuel), passive safety systems, and simplified operations, reducing the risk of human error.

Professor Hussein emphasized the reliability of nuclear power: “We are essentially risking it all by damaging Earth and all of human existence, existence for other creatures, instead of going with something that is quite reliable. We have experience. It is not completely new.”

While SMRs use less nuclear fuel than traditional reactors, waste management remains a crucial consideration. Professor Hussein said that the small volume of waste from SMRs would decay over time, potentially allowing for the extraction of valuable materials and even reusable nuclear fuel.

Kugelmass reframed the waste issue as an opportunity: “What you’ve done is you have performed alchemy, you have transmuted many different normal, stable elements to unstable isotopic versions.”

He argued that these materials, including safety devices like smoke detectors, can be repurposed for industrial applications.

Despite the technical advancements and improved safety features, public perception remains a significant hurdle for the SMR industry. Addressing these concerns will be crucial for widespread adoption.

Kugelmass suggested a new approach to public engagement: “We want to refocus people’s thinking on [the benefits and applications of nuclear technology] to address the public perception, rather than just shove a bunch of technical scientific papers in their face and saying it’s safe.”

As the world seeks cleaner energy solutions , SMRs offer a promising path forward. They combine the reliability of nuclear power with increased flexibility, reduced costs, and enhanced safety features. The success of this technology will depend on continued innovation, regulatory support, and effective communication with the public about its benefits and safety.

Ultimately, the question we must ask ourselves is not just about the safety of nuclear power but about the risks of inaction in the face of climate change. SMRs represent a significant leap forward in nuclear Energy. Their development and deployment are key to achieving a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.