⚛️ SMR 101: Why All the Hype?

SMRs are the nuclear world’s version of AirPods—sleek, compact, high-impact, and suddenly everywhere.

Unlike traditional nuclear plants that take a decade (or two) to build, SMRs can be factory-assembled and shipped out like IKEA furniture for the grid (minus the Allen wrench).

Some SMR designs aim for timelines as short as 12–18 months from order to operation.

They’re cheaper per unit, easier to finance, and safer in the public imagination simply because they're... well, small.

It’s nuclear for places that never thought nuclear was an option. Think hospitals, data centers, off-grid towns, locations unable to support large reactors, and sites with limited water.

And just like your favorite streaming service, they're modular: start with one, then add more as needed.

Here's a breakdown from DOE that keeps it simple but solid👇

💰 Texas Approves $350M Nuclear Program

The Texas Senate just passed a bill to create a $350 million grant program focused on boosting nuclear power—and yes, that includes advanced reactors and SMRs.

About $280 million of the pot is earmarked for direct cost reimbursement to companies building new reactors in Texas, while the rest goes to R&D and feasibility studies.

The bill doesn’t play favorites with reactor types, but the push is clearly aligned with supporting next-gen technologies like molten salt reactors (MSRs), high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs), and advanced PWRs.

The initiative shows Texas isn’t just about oil rigs and wind farms anymore. With demand for 24/7 power (hello, data centers) rising fast, nuclear is moving into the energy mix—and the Lone Star State wants to lead the charge.

✅ NuScale’s SMR Gets NRC Green Light

NuScale just got official NRC approval for its upgraded US460 design—a 77 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) that’s an evolution of their earlier 50 MW model.

The modular reactor uses proven light-water technology but is built to be factory-fabricated and scalable, letting utilities add modules like nuclear LEGO bricks.

NuScale's first-gen 50 MW design was approved back in 2020, but this new version delivers 50% more output and better economics per MW.

The NRC’s approval means NuScale now has the regulatory green light to pitch this bigger, better version to utilities and investors.

NuScale is hoping to deploy these SMRs in Idaho with the UAMPS project, although timelines have been a moving target.

The broader takeaway is that NuScale just became the first company with two separate SMR designs approved by the U.S. nuclear regulator.

🔋 Radiant Raises $165M to Nuke Diesel Generators (in a good way)

California-based Radiant just secured a massive $165 million Series C to bring its 1 MW mobile microreactor to market—a direct shot at replacing diesel generators in off-grid and remote areas.

The tech is based on a solid-core gas-cooled reactor, a design that uses helium as a coolant and TRISO fuel for ultra-safe, high-temperature operation.

The company says its microreactor will be small enough to fit in a shipping container, can be flown in by plane or helicopter, and will deliver clean power for up to 8 years without refueling. Think: military bases, disaster relief zones, or mining camps far from the grid.

They plan to start testing at Idaho National Lab in 2026, with commercial rollout aimed for 2028.

Radiant wants to mass-produce up to 50 of these things per year. It’s still early, but this is the kind of nuclear comeback story that could redefine off-grid power—cleaner, quieter, and way cooler than diesel.

🛡️ Feds Fast-Track Microreactors for National Defense

The U.S. government just gave Defense Production Act (DPA) priority to two microreactor test beds—DOME and LOTUS—at Idaho National Lab, underscoring just how strategically important these tiny reactors are for national security.

This move isn’t just about innovation—it’s about readiness. With growing concerns over grid resilience and energy supply for military operations, the Department of Energy is treating advanced microreactors as a critical defense asset.

Both projects will support early deployment of HALEU-fueled microreactors, particularly gas-cooled and molten salt designs. And thanks to DPA status, they’ll leapfrog traditional procurement and permitting bottlenecks—cutting through the red tape to build faster.

The goal? Rapid testing and validation of designs that could one day power remote bases, mobile operations, or even forward-deployed missions—offering energy independence without a fuel convoy in sight.

First experiments are targeted for 2026, but the strategic shift is already underway.

⚛️For the Nu-clearly Curious

🔨Feds green-light uranium mine in Utah, first project approved under Trump’s energy declarations
A uranium mine in southern Utah is the first project to be approved under US President Trump’s emergency declaration streamlining the development of energy infrastructure. Owned by Anfield Energy, the project received a green light under the government’s new, 14-day environmental review process for energy projects. The permitting process for similar projects has taken years in the past.

📺CNBC: Why Europe is pivoting back to nuclear — one of its most divisive energy sources
A European-wide shift to nuclear power appears to be gathering momentum as countries hedge their bets in pursuit of more energy independence.

📈Washington state's Columbia nuclear plant will uprate its power output by 200 MW (from 1,207 to 1,393 MW)
The uprate project activities will cost $700 million and will occur during the spring refueling outages in 2027, 2029, and 2031.

🚀80 Mayors Meet in Vienna to Talk Nuclear

More than 80 mayors and local leaders—representing 9 million people—met at the IAEA’s #LetsTalkNuclear event to talk public engagement and local benefits of nuclear.

The event kicked off with a powerful opening film that captured just how far public and political sentiment has shifted in favor of nuclear power in recent years.

🎥 Watch the opening video here:

👀 Space Rain That Sees Through Walls

Welcome back to Atomic Alternatives—your go-to for the coolest corners of nuclear science you didn't learn about in school. This week, we’re putting on our detective hats.

🦸 Ever wish you could see through walls like Superman? 

Enter muon tomography.

Muons are subatomic particles, kind of like heavy electrons, that rain down from space when cosmic rays hit Earth’s atmosphere. They’re super fast, super small, and—unlike X-rays—they can actually penetrate really dense materials like lead, steel, or even thick concrete.

🔍 How it works:

As muons pass through matter, they scatter. Denser material = more scattering. By placing detectors around an object (say, a shipping container or spent fuel cask), scientists can measure those tiny deflections to reconstruct what’s inside—like a CT scan, powered by space particles.

🧰 What it’s used for:

• 🏛️ Archaeology: Discovered a secret chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid in 2017.

• 🚛 Border Security: Used at ports to scan containers for illicit nuclear materials.

• ☢️ Nuclear Waste: Helps monitor spent fuel casks to check if anything’s missing.

• 🌋 Volcano Science: Yep, we’ve used muons to peek inside volcanoes and map magma chambers. Because why not?

🌍 TL;DR:

Muon tomography is nuclear tech with a cosmic twist—using space-rain to scan pyramids, hunt contraband, and monitor radioactive vaults.

No radiation exposure needed, no superpowers required. Just good ol’ physics and a sprinkle of space dust.

😂Meme of The Week

💬 Like this SMR-heavy edition? Hit reply and let me know—your feedback fuels the core.

Until next time: stay charged, stay critical (like a reactor), and keep glowing.😎

– Fredrik
📬[email protected]
🔗 nuclearupdate.com