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small modular reactor
Trends
- 1Italian parliament votes to bring back nuclear energy●Italian parliament votes for return to nuclear energy
Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.
- 2NRC issues first US construction permit for BWRX-300 small modular reactor●NRC issues first U.S. construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the country's first construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor, developed by GE Vernova Hitachi for the Tennessee Valley Authority at its Clinch River site in Tennessee. It marks a regulatory milestone for next-generation nuclear power in the United States, with supporters viewing it as a step toward deploying smaller, faster-to-build reactors for low-carbon electricity.
- 3AI power demand pushes Thailand and Southeast Asia toward small reactors●Chips need current as AI pushes Thailand, Southeast Asia toward small reactors
Southeast Asia is turning to small modular reactors as demand for reliable electricity surges alongside its growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Thailand is among the countries weighing the technology, with chip manufacturing requiring stable power supplies that renewable sources alone have struggled to guarantee, prompting a regional rethink on nuclear energy.
- 4China's small modular reactors spark debate over solar's future●China is already building THESE? Will SMRs make our solar plants useless?
Discussion is growing around China's construction of small modular reactors, a new class of compact nuclear plants. Commentators are asking whether cheap, factory-built SMRs could undercut solar farms as the backbone of future power supply. Supporters see SMRs as reliable low-carbon baseload; critics note solar remains far cheaper and the reactors are still largely unproven at scale.
- 5Google Signs Sweeping Nuclear Power Deal With Constellation Energy▼Google and Constellation Energy Strike a Sweeping Nuclear-Power Deal
Google and Constellation Energy have agreed to a sweeping nuclear power deal, according to the Wall Street Journal. The agreement is part of tech companies' broader push to secure large volumes of reliable, low-carbon electricity to power energy-hungry data centers and artificial intelligence operations. The deal adds momentum to a wave of corporate interest in nuclear energy, including restarted reactors and new small modular projects across the United States.
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Discussion is underway about how near the energy industry actually is to deploying small modular reactors at scale. While several companies and governments have announced SMR projects, observers are questioning whether timelines and cost projections hold up, given that no design has yet been fully commercialized. The debate centers on whether the technology is a realistic near-term climate solution or still years away from practical, affordable deployment.
- 7Second RITM-200C reactor completed for Chukotka floating power plant▼The second RITM-200C small modular reactor unit has been manufactured for the floating nuclear power plant destined to s
The second RITM-200C small modular reactor has been manufactured for a floating nuclear power plant intended to supply electricity to a copper mining centre in Chukotka, Russia. The news highlights the growing role of small modular reactors in powering remote industrial sites.
- 8Nuclear power and waste debated on West Virginia politics show▼Nuclear power and waste on Inside West Virginia Politics
West Virginia's interest in nuclear power is back in focus as WOWK 13 News dedicates a segment of its Inside West Virginia Politics program to nuclear energy and the question of waste storage. The discussion comes as more US states weigh small modular reactors and how to handle spent fuel. The program looks at what nuclear development could mean for the state's economy and energy mix.
- 9America's First Small Modular Reactor Cleared to Break Ground▼America’s First Small Modular Reactor Just Got Permission to Break Ground
The United States has granted permission for construction to begin on the nation's first small modular reactor, a next-generation nuclear plant designed to be built faster and cheaper than traditional reactors. The approval marks a milestone for the US nuclear industry, as supporters hail small modular reactors as a key tool for delivering reliable, low-carbon power.
- 10Critics push back on Silicon Valley's enthusiasm for small modular reactors●Silicon Valley got you convinced that # SMR is a brilliant new # nuclear technology? Sorry… “Small modular reactors (SMR
A commentary circulating online argues that small modular reactors are being oversold as a new nuclear breakthrough when the technology is far from novel. It notes SMRs were first conceived for military use and deployed on polar bases roughly seventy years ago, and says their track record since has been poor. The piece challenges claims from Silicon Valley figures that SMRs offer a quick clean-energy solution.