01 How It Works
SMRs are reactors with electrical output typically below 300 MWe, designed to be manufactured in factories and shipped to site - unlike traditional gigawatt-scale plants built on-site over a decade. Designs vary widely: some are PWR-based, others use molten salt, gas, or liquid metal cooling. Many feature passive safety systems that require no operator action or external power to shut down safely. The modularity allows adding units incrementally as demand grows.
02 Pros & Cons
โ Advantages
- Factory manufacture โ faster, cheaper, more consistent quality
- Passive safety - cannot melt down without intervention
- Flexible siting - remote areas, industrial heat, islands
- Scalable capacity - add modules as needed
โ Disadvantages
- No SMR has yet achieved large-scale commercial deployment
- Economics uncertain - no proven cost advantage yet
- New regulatory frameworks needed
- Public perception challenges remain
03 Specifications
THERMAL EFFICIENCYVaries (30โ45%)
OPERATING TEMPVaries by design
PRESSUREVaries by design
FUELVaries - UOโ, TRISO, thorium
FUELVaries - UOโ, TRISO, thorium
COUNTRIESChina (HTR-PM operational), Russia (floating), global development
04 Did You Know?
China's HTR-PM (High Temperature Gas Reactor - Pebble Bed Module) connected to the grid in December 2021: the world's first commercial Gen IV reactor. The US has over 20 SMR designs in various stages of development.