"As a fledgling technology, SMRs still have a lot to prove. One issue is that, while smaller nukes require smaller cheque books, their cost per unit of capacity is higher than those of their massive conventional cousins. A single standard has yet to emerge: the Nuclear Energy Agency counts nearly 130 SMR technologies globally.

On top of that, they share many of the same challenges as their larger peers. Three quarters of the world’s uranium hails from a small handful of countries, and enrichment is dominated by Russia and China. Several studies suggest SMRs will produce higher levels of nuclear waste than traditional plants. One 2022 survey found the volume of waste could be double or as much as 30 times bigger, due in part to the use of chemically reactive fuels and coolants. Security, too, remains paramount.

SMRs are one part of the solution to combine growing demand for electricity and decarbonisation. But with so many options under development, clients are inclined to play the field. Tennessee Valley Authority, the US’s biggest power provider, has signed up agreements with a clutch of SMRs.

https://www.ft.com/content/567a1cbc-5030-4e7f-854f-b7eb9ca6b762

#Nuclear #NuclearEnergy #Renewables #SMRs #NuclearWaste