The article, published on December 5, looks at how small modular reactors could fit the needs of “some of the world’s dirtiest industries.” Steve Threlfall, of Urenco Ltd., is mentioned in the article as believing that there could be a $70-billion industrial market in the United Kingdom for SMRs to generate heat for the production of ceramics, petrochemicals, and steel. SMRs could also provide carbon-free energy to the grid to balance out intermittent wind and solar energy.
The article reviews some of the more than 60 SMR designs in various stages of development and the challenges faced by SMR developers. Henri Paillere, the head of planning and economic studies at the International Atomic Energy Agency, said, “This is the decade of SMR demonstrations. . . . There is a high level of innovation.”
Citing a 2018 National Academy of Sciences study, the article concludes that without reviving demand for nuclear energy, the United States risks losing expertise in building reactors.
