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small modular reactors
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.
- 2AI 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.
- 3US regulators approve first BWRX-300 small reactor construction permit●NRC issues first U.S. construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the first U.S. construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor, developed by GE Vernova Hitachi, for the Tennessee Valley Authority's Clinch River site. It marks a regulatory milestone for next-generation nuclear power in the United States, with supporters calling it a major step toward deploying smaller, faster-to-build reactors.
- 4Second 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.
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A new assessment asks whether small modular reactors are truly close to commercial deployment, or whether timelines remain optimistic. The nuclear industry has promised smaller, factory-built reactors for years, but most designs are still awaiting regulatory approval, funding, and a proven track record. Observers are weighing cost overruns and delays against rising demand for firm, low-carbon power, making the realistic arrival date of SMRs a live question in energy circles.
- 6Critics 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.