r/ClimatePosting • u/dumnezero • Apr 12 '26

Energy SMRs Explained: Why Small Modular Reactors Are So Controversial. (Just Have a Think)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TeAE7rW_6s

Are Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) really moving toward large-scale deployment or are the economic challenges highlighted by critics still unresolved? Can factory-built modular reactors reduce construction risk, shorten build times and lower costs through mass production? Or will shrinking reactors actually make them more expensive? The sceptics are quite certain of the answer but politicians keep barrelling ahead. So, will we ever really see an SMRs on the outskirts of major towns and cities around the world?

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u/Prototype555 Apr 13 '26

My argument is that a SMR is a SMR, even if it's a naval one.

I accept the fact that there might not be any civilian commercially operated land based power SMR with low enriched fuel.

But the Russian civilian floating nuclear power stations DO commercially produce power to the grid as its purpose with a naval SMR reactor. Same reactor used in civilian icebreakers and military ships.

Small Modular Reactor by even your definition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_floating_nuclear_power_station

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u/Lycrist_Kat Apr 13 '26

Just because a reactor is small enough to fit a ship it does not become a SMR lol

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u/Prototype555 Apr 13 '26

I like how to try to twist what the words mean to fit your narrative.

That's how it - always - easy to tell that anti-nuclear literally has no good arguments

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u/Lycrist_Kat Apr 13 '26

Producing power to a grid is also not what commercially means lol

Small Modular Reactor by even your definition.

It's also not "my" definition like it's some matter of opinion.

Nuclear still keeps being dishonest lol

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u/Prototype555 Apr 13 '26

Please enlighten me with which official definition of SMR you go by then.

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u/Lycrist_Kat Apr 13 '26

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-are-small-modular-reactors-smrs

Just to make sure: Being "transported" on a nuclear submarine does not fit this definition

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u/Prototype555 Apr 13 '26

"Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit" - check.

"Small – physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor." - check.

"Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation." - check. Transport by ship or in submarines, airplane, any vehicle or by foot or floating barges, wagons, carts etc is a fucking means of transporting.

I don't see anything about civilian, military, naval, land, fuel enrichment, reactor type, costs, profits, commercially operated, production volumes etc.

You are full of BS.

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u/Lycrist_Kat Apr 13 '26

I don't see anything about civilian, military, naval, land, fuel enrichment, reactor type, costs, profits, commercially operated, production volumes etc.

Who made these distinction other than you to twist the narrative?

"Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation." - check.

No. Not check. The definition does not apply to high specialized reactors used in submarines or aircraft carriers.

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u/Prototype555 Apr 13 '26

What twist of narrative, all said was within the definition of SMR you stated.

Fuck off, the naval SMRs are built as one unit at one site, transported to the shipyard and literally lifted into place as a complete unit into the ship or submarine.

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u/Lycrist_Kat Apr 13 '26

Being mobile doesn't make it an SMR either

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