A new report has assessed the feasibility of deploying small modular nuclear reactors to meet increasing energy demands around the world. The findings don’t look so good for this particular form of energy production.
There are about 80 SMR concepts currently in various stages of development around the world.
The cost of SMRs is at the forefront of the report’s argument against the deployment of the reactors.
too expensive, too slow, and too risky. And not at all where we should be focussing our, um – energy – these days, as the study authors make clear in their conclusion.
Too risky for widespread public deployment to replace fossil fuels right now, but they don’t say it’s too risky for specialized use like submarines or military bases.
“The results of the analysis show little has changed from their previous work. SMRs still are too expensive, too slow to build, and too risky to play a significant role in transitioning from fossil fuels in the coming 10 to 15 years.”
