OverviewBackgroundOperational SMRsDesignsTechnologiesNuclear safetyRadioactive wasteNuclear proliferation
The term was brought to wider use when U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu identified "small modular reactors" as "America''s new nuclear option" in a 2010 Wall Street Journal op-ed, where he stated "SMRs would be ready to ''plug and play'' upon arrival [on site]" and be more affordable. He announced that President Barack Obama had requested $39 million for a new SMR design and licensing program. Economic factors of scale mean that nuclear reactors tend to be large, to such an extent that size itsel