1、 itif.org Small Modular Reactors:A Realist Approach to the Future of Nuclear Power ROBIN GASTER|APRIL 2025 Standard large nuclear reactors wont achieve scale or cost competitiveness with alternative energy sources.DOE should focus its resources on small modular reactors,which are a more promising te

2、chnology with the potential to achieve price and performance parity.KEY TAKEAWAYS Small modular reactors(SMRs)are the future of nuclear power,and they could become an important strategic export industry in the next two decades.SMRs must get to sufficient scale so they can become cost competitive wit

3、h other energy sources including large reactors,renewables,and fossil fuels.DOE needs to develop independent assessment capabilities for SMRs(and other technologies)that focus on the pathway to price and performance parity(P3).All major investments must be reviewed through the P3 lens(see box).DOE s

4、hould maintain and expand its strong support for basic and applied nuclear research through the Advanced Reactor Development Program(ARDP)and DOEs GenIII+program,including new test and demonstration sites at INL.DOEs Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations(OCED)must provide critical funding to help pr

5、ovide commercial viability,and the Loan Program Office(LPO)will need reform and restructuring to focus specifically on scale-up.Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC)reform is under way,but more is needed.Innovation requires iteration,and that requires new thinking.NEPA reform is also needed,and so is i

6、mproved interconnection of new energy sources to the grid.SMR markets will be global,so NRC and DOE must not ignore international regulation.United States,Europe,Japan,and other allies can align their regimes to help counter competition from Chinese and Russian state-backed enterprises.INFORMATION T