Is There a Future for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors?

Here’s an infographic that summarizes some of the observations on the adoption of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The reader will note that some of this stuff is so vague that it’s really valueless.  For instance, Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency says:

“More than 60 countries have expressed, to the IAEA, their interest in nuclear power, but when you look at grid sizes, many of these countries cannot accommodate a full-sized commercial reactor of today’s standard, given the size of their networks. You can assume that a lot of these countries – if they were actually going to develop nuclear power programs – would be looking at smaller capacity reactors.”

Anyone who takes this to mean that SMRs are right around the corner isn’t thinking very clearly.  Personally, I’m one of the 83% who believes that the “lack of cost competitiveness with other forms of energy” is what will kill this, and render the whole discussion moot.  The falling cost of solar, the already low levelized cost of wind energy will (actually already has) put a spear through SMRs.