Highlights

More from Hussein Khalil on SMR’s and the U.S. Department of Energy program:

“Nuclear energy is an important part of the nation’s energy supply mix, providing 20% of electricity generation. Along with renewable energy sources, it has vast potential for fueling economic growth and development around the world, while protecting our environment. Key goals for sustaining and expanding the use of nuclear energy in the future are to reduce the risk of investment in new plants, improve the management of used fuel and nuclear waste, and enhance the assurance of safety and reliability for existing and advanced reactor systems.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) promise to expand the use of nuclear energy to new markets and applications – and are particularly suited for regions requiring smaller increments of capacity addition or isolated from a large electricity grid. Moreover, the smaller initial investment required for SMRs is a key factor in making them more affordable to generating companies that lack the resources for investing in larger plants. By investing in the development of SMRs, the U.S. can enhance its economy through creation of domestic jobs in the manufacturing of these reactors and exporting them to other nations and world regions.

While the promise of SMRs is clear, the risk inherent in their development, licensing and commercialization is significant. The Department of Energy’s SMR program is designed to reduce this risk for industry through the sharing of SMR initial development and design certification costs with the industry. This investment promises to yield a large return for the nation through creation of new jobs, enhancing economic growth, and promoting exports to other nations.”