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Plant Design

Overview

New reactors and technologies hold the promise of the future of clean, reliable energy. But the possibilities go well beyond electricity generation. The nuclear reactors of tomorrow—some less than a decade away—will offer a variety of benefits such as water desalination, process heat and alternative fuels generation, and access to power beyond the grid. They will help remote areas have reliable and clean electricity options and provide immediate power after a disaster. Some designs will even allow us to recover and recycle elements in used nuclear fuel that can still produce energy. These reactors are the backbone of our carbon free future, and an NEI survey of its 19 utility members found that more than 300 new SMRs are planned to be deployed over the next 25 years.

Exciting Possibilities of Advanced Reactors

Advanced reactors represent the cutting edge in nuclear technology: many are inherently safer by design, with some—like the small modular reactor (SMR) being developed by NuScale Power—capable of operating without the need for safety-related backup electrical systems.
Advanced nuclear reactors are being designed to more quickly adjust their electricity output to match demand, helping them stabilize the grid in areas with a high volume of intermittent renewables.
Advanced reactors will use a variety of coolants including water, molten salt, high temperature gas and liquid metal. Learn more about advanced nuclear technologies.
Reactors will come in a wide range of sizes, from a few megawatts to more than 1,000 (like traditional reactors). This will allow owners to tailor their electricity generation to their energy demands. This is particularly important for smaller companies, rural electric cooperatives or municipal agencies and for isolated and distributed applications.
Developers are creating simpler designs, incorporating factory construction, and working to lower overall construction and operating costs to be more competitive with other forms of energy generation. Click here for more information about the economics of SMRs.
Advanced reactors are being designed to power hybrid energy systems that not only produce electricity for the grid, but can also produce clean drinking water, and hydrogen or heat to decarbonize the industrial and transportation sectors.

Learn more about Reactor Technology and Temperature >

Advanced Reactor Types

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced reactors that produce 300 megawatts or less of electricity. They utilize components that can be factory-built—minimizing costs, improving quality and reducing construction schedules—thereby enabling rapid construction to meet growing demand for carbon-free electricity. Future advanced reactors will integrate well with other carbon-free sources like wind and solar.
Micro-reactors—just a few megawatts of nuclear generation—are capable of operating independently from the grid to supply power when and where it is needed most. Certain micro-reactor designs have the potential to be relocated as needed, with attributes that hold special promise to the nation’s largest energy user—the United States military.
Nonwater cooled reactors are being developed to use liquid metal, high-temperature gas or molten salt coolant. These reactors will have a high temperature output for potential use in industrial applications. For example, they can be used for hydrogen production which will be instrumental in reducing carbon emissions in other sectors of the economy.