The BIG Potential for Nuclear Microreactors

The U.S. nuclear energy sector is going through one of the most innovative and transformative times in its history.

An entirely new class of advanced reactors will soon be coming in a wide variety of sizes and applications.

More than 20 U.S. companies are working on designs that are smaller, scalable, versatile and even mobile—providing far greater access to nuclear power than ever before.

Microreactors will likely be the first advanced reactors to enter the U.S. market. Domestic reactor developers are currently working on gas and heat pipe-cooled designs that could debut by the mid-2020s.

Small and Versatile

Microreactors are simply smaller, factory-built systems that can be easily transported by trucks, ships, airplanes or railcars.

Some microreactors can be set up in days, not years, to provide reliable heat and power to a host of places, ranging from residential and remote areas to military bases.

Microreactors may be small but they pack a real punch in terms of power.

A single unit typically generates 1 to 10 megawatts-electric.

To put this in perspective, a single megawatt of electricity can power approximately 1,000 homes. That means these systems could provide up to 10,0000 homes with clean power—24 hours a day, 7 days a week—for 10 years without stopping!

They can also be used for other applications such as community heating or to provide clean drinking water.

To put it simply, microreactors can operate in places large reactors can’t. They provide choice to customers that need a constant and reliable source of clean power without the costs of a large construction project.

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