How much do SMRs cost?

NuScale has estimated its first plant will cost just under $3 billion to build, giving an overnight capital cost of $5,078/kWe. But the real power of SMRs are the fact that they can’t melt down.

How much does small modular reactors cost?

There is just one operational SMR, Russia’s floating plant. Its estimated cost is US$740 million for a 70 MW plant. That equates to A$15,200 per kW – similar to the CSIRO/AEMO estimate of A$16,304 per kW.

Are Smrs cheaper?

Although the exact level of cost reduction is subject to speculation, one 2017 study suggested a factory-produced pressurized water SMR might be between 15 percent and 40 percent cheaper than a traditional plant scaled to provide the same electrical output.

How much does NuScale cost?

NuScale has an estimated Nth-of-a-kind (NOAK) overnight capital cost of approximately $3,600/KW, backed by our AACE Class IV cost estimate, compared to more than $9,000/KW for recent large nuclear plant projects in Georgia and South Carolina.

Is SMR fuel cost different between large and small reactors?

SMR fuel cost is a relatively small percentage of the total cost [ 19, 25 ], and given the same technology, it is not differentiable between large and small reactors. Therefore, studies about the fuel cost are excluded from the analysis.

What are advanced small modular reactors?

These advanced reactors, envisioned to vary in size from tens of megawatts up to hundreds of megawatts, can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination, or other industrial uses. Advanced Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a key part of the Department’s goal to develop safe, clean, and affordable nuclear power options.

Are there any documents on small modular nuclear reactors?

There is a growing interest toward Small Modular nuclear Reactors (SMRs). A relatively large number of documents about SMRs has been published so far. Presents the state-of-the-art on economics and finance of land-based SMRs. Identifies the most relevant gap in knowledge and provides a research agenda.

What does Generation IV SMR mean for nuclear energy?

The report concludes that Generation IV SMR development is a response to market forces for “smaller, simpler and cheaper” nuclear energy, and the large global market for this technology will be “driven not just by climate change and clean energy policies, but also by the imperatives of energy security and access.”