Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Show Big Promise
January 23, 2023
Federal regulators have approved what will be the United States’ first small modular nuclear reactor, a step the government says will provide “a new clean power source” to help the nation reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In Issues, Ahmed Abdulla and M. Granger Morgan see even wider application. Many developing countries, they write, may find the reactors economically and technologically attractive for meeting their growing energy demands in a way that is more compatible with their smaller electricity grids. Toward this goal, the authors offer a blueprint for how to build small modular reactors efficiently and ensure maximum safety.