Forty-three nations currently without nuclear power plan to launch nuclear power programs to meet their future energy needs, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Traditional nuclear plants will likely be used in most of these countries. However, there are many regions of the world that simply do not have the transmission and distribution infrastructure to carry the power to the places it is needed.

One alternative being considered for such situations is the use of small nuclear power plants. These plants have outputs in the double digit megawatt range. And they are being eyed for electricity generation to serve small regions, large remote communities, or energy-intensive operations such as remote oil exploration efforts.

Basic research into small nuclear plants has been going on for years at Department of Energy-funded labs, the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, and at universities around the world. And within the last year, a few companies have licensed technology and announced their intent to have what are essentially small, modular reactors in operation in about seven to 10 years.

For example, Hyperion Power Generation, Inc. plans to build a compact, self-regulating power module that produces about 70 megawatts of heat and 25 megawatts of electrical power via steam turbine. And NuScale Power, Inc. is developing and intends to commercialize a modular, scalable 40 megawatt electric Light Water Reactor nuclear power plant.

The small plants can be clustered together. This allows an operator to add capacity over time as needed.

Despite their promise and the pent up demand for electricity, operators may face delays getting small reactors, like their larger counterparts, online.

The small reactors will need NRC approval. And while the companies developing the reactors are poised to start this process, the revival in interest in nuclear power in general will see the total number of submissions for approval for all types of nuclear power plants jump significantly. This could slow the approval for any one application.  

Additionally, today’s economy is likely to complicate efforts to get financial backing for any new project.  

Naturally, placing reactors around the world raises proliferation issues. One solution being proposed with the small plants is to offer a sealed unit that cannot be opened in the field and where the operator never has access to the fuel. 

Even with these limitations, the interest in the small nuclear plants seems strong. Hyperion already has a multi-billion backlog of orders from customers from around the globe. 

What do you think? Are small nuclear plants the way to go for remote regions of the world that need ever-increasing amounts of electricity? Or is it worth the investment in a transmission and distribution infrastructure to keep energy production centralized?