Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

Small modular reactors (SMRs) encompass a large number of technologies at different stages of development. A key challenge for SMR stakeholders is the evaluation of SMR competitiveness with respect to large reactors (LRs). SMRs are usually considered less competitive than LRs because of a misguided application of the economy of scale principle. However, several advantages of SMRs (e.g., suitability for cogeneration, modularization, reduction of the time to market, etc.) summarized in this chapter need to be considered in the comparison between SMRs and LRs. This chapter focuses on SMR economics and financing, concluding with a brief explanation on why no-one SMR has been built so far.