VExtreme weather events have been at the top of the news agenda in recent weeks, with scientists and fact-based news organizations blaming their increasing severity on climate change. All the scientists consulted emphasized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
At the same time, there are predictions that large amounts of new power sources will be urgently needed to keep artificial intelligence and data centers running. small modular reactor (SMR) is being touted as a green solution. According to the report, SMR is just around the corner and will be commercially available in the 2030s. Google ordered seven units first, followed by Amazon, Microsoft, meta Each orders more.
Digital visualization of Rolls-Royce SMR’s planned small modular nuclear reactor. Photo: Rolls-Royce SMR
Billions of dollars in funding are available, and many startups and established nuclear companies are joining the effort. More than 90 individual SMR designs are sold worldwide. Many governments, including the UK, are funneling money into design competitions and other ways to encourage development.
In all of this, there is a credibility gap. None of the reactor designs started from scratch, no prototypes were built, no safety tests began, and costs are only optimistic estimates. SMR may succeed, but let big tech companies bet their spare billions on SMR while the rest of us build cheap renewable energy that we know works.
Source: www.theguardian.com
