Climate Strategy
SMRs are central to debates over whether nuclear can scale up quickly enough to help cut carbon emissions from the electric grid.
In plain English
Mini nuclear plants built from factory parts.
SMRs are mini nuclear power plants built from prefabricated parts. Backers say they could be safer and faster to deploy; skeptics question whether they will deliver on cost and timeline promises.
Simple example
The U.S. Department of Energy has funded SMR demonstration projects, including a TerraPower plant under development in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and X-energy reactors planned with Dow Chemical in Texas.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Cost And Risk
Whether SMRs prove affordable will shape decisions by utilities, regulators and taxpayers about subsidies and ratepayer costs.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Factory Built
Key components are manufactured in a controlled factory setting and shipped to the site, which proponents say reduces construction delays and cost overruns common in large reactor projects.
Federal Review
Designs must be certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and projects often rely on Department of Energy grants and Inflation Reduction Act tax credits to move forward.
Related guide
Should the U.S. expand nuclear power to address climate change?
Nuclear energy supplies nearly half of America's carbon-free electricity, but expanding it raises questions about cost, safety and waste.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
Should the U.S. Expand Nuclear Power to Address Climate Change?
As the country seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions, policymakers are divided over whether to build more nuclear reactors or focus on other low-carbon options.
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Should the United States expand nuclear power to address climate change?
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