-- The US is accelerating efforts to revive its nuclear power sector through a new generation of small modular reactors and microreactors, as policymakers seek to overcome hurdles that have stalled large-scale projects for decades, the Energy Information Administration said on Monday.
EIA analysts told US utilities currently operate about 98 gigawatts of nuclear capacity, but expansion has been limited by capital intensity and regulatory hurdles.
SMRs, which produce up to 300 megawatts per unit, are being positioned as a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to conventional reactors, which can generate between 550 MW and 1,500 MW.
The EIA said that, unlike traditional plants, SMRs rely on modular, factory-built components that can be shipped and assembled on site, potentially shortening construction timelines and reducing financing risks.
Microreactors, a smaller subset with capacities of 20 MW or less, are designed for deployment in remote locations, military bases, or industrial facilities and can operate independently of the main grid.
The technology has drawn increased interest from developers of energy-intensive operations, such as AI data centers and advanced manufacturing, where reliable, around-the-clock power is critical, but grid connectivity may be constrained.
Meanwhile, the EIA said a wide range of reactor designs is under development across the US, reflecting differing approaches to efficiency, fuel use, and industrial application.
Light water-cooled SMRs, which mirror existing reactor technology, are among the closest to commercial deployment. These systems use conventional low-enriched uranium and are designed to provide scalable baseload power to the grid.
More advanced concepts include high-temperature gas reactors, which use helium cooling and graphite moderation to reach temperatures suitable for industrial heat applications, including hydrogen production.
EIA analysts said that some designs incorporate high-assay, low-enriched uranium or TRISO fuel, engineered to withstand extreme conditions.
Molten salt reactors represent another emerging category, using liquid salts as fuel or coolant. Their high operating temperatures and inherent safety characteristics make them candidates for both electricity generation and industrial processes.
Sodium-cooled fast reactors, meanwhile, replace water with a liquid-metal coolant, enabling operation at lower pressures and higher temperatures and potentially enabling more efficient fuel utilization.
Federal backing for these technologies has intensified, the EIA said. The US Department of Energy reissued a $900 million funding call in 2025 to support SMR development, alongside launching the Energy Reactor Pilot Program to accelerate testing and deployment outside national laboratories.
The US military is also emerging as an early adopter. The Department of Defense is exploring microreactors to enhance energy resilience at bases, particularly in remote or strategically sensitive regions.
The Department of the Air Force plans to deploy its first microreactor at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska by 2027, using a sodium-cooled design developed by Oklo (OKLO) that is expected to generate between 1 MW and 5 MW.
The Army, through its Janus Program, is evaluating multiple bases for potential reactor siting, building on earlier work under Project Pele.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy is working to establish a domestic supply chain for advanced nuclear fuels, including HALEU, through its Fuel Line Pilot Program, an effort seen as critical to scaling next-generation reactors.
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