Small modular reactors (SMRs) are an integral part of the Department of Energy’s goal to “develop safe, clean, and affordable nuclear power options.” SMRs are nuclear fission reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, approximately one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors. Modular designs allow components to be assembled in a factory and add more modules as required. SMRs can be deployed for various applications like power generation, process heat, desalination or other industrial applications. SMRs could also help with the demanding energy needs of data centers. The various types of SMRs include heavy water and light water reactors, high-temperature reactors, fast neutron reactors, and molten salt reactors.
SMRs are an emerging market with numerous designs currently under development. In a July 2025 report, the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) identified 127 global SMR technologies (74 with publicly accessible information, 25 under development but which requested not to be included, and 28 not under active development). Of the 74 SMR designs under development, 30 designs are being pursued by 25 design organizations headquartered in North America. NEA also cited additional benefits of SMRs including using significantly less water than large reactors and a lower requirement for critical minerals.
The World Nuclear Association states there are two SMRs currently operational: Russia’s KLT-40S pressurized water reactor (PWR) and China’s high-temperature gas-cooled modular pebble bed (HTR-PM) reactor demonstrator. The KLT-40S began commercial operation in May 2020. It is owned and operated by Joint Stock Company ‘Concern Rosenergoatom.’ China’s HTR-PM began commercial operation in December 2023. It is owned by China Huaneng Group and operated by Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Company, Ltd.
In 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the first SMR design in the U.S., which was submitted by NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) based in Corvallis, OR. In May 2025, NRC approved NuScale Power’s uprated power module–the company’s second SMR design. Other U.S. SMR companies that are publicly traded include BWX Technologies (NYSE: BWXT) in Lynchburg, Virginia and Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) from Santa Clara, California. Some of the major SMR developers in North America expected to commercialize SMRs in the near future are NuScale Power, LLC. (U.S.), GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (U.S.), Moltex Energy (Canada), and Terrestrial Energy Inc. (U.S. & Canada), according to MarketsandMarkets.
Upcoming events of interest include MiNES 2025 and SMR, AMS Winter 2025, and Advanced Reactor 2026. Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems 2025 (MiNES 2025) in Cleveland, Ohio December 7-11, 2025. Conference organizers are affiliated with several national labs, universities, and industry leaders. The 2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo will be held in Washington, DC November 9-12, 2025. This event includes executive sessions to unpack the latest executive orders and attended by senior officials from the administration and Congress. The SMR & Advanced Reactor 2026 will be held in Austin, Texas in May 2026. This senior-level meeting for the SMR community will bring together over 750 leaders from utilities, financiers, reactor developers, technology providers and regulators.
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