quick reply on SMRs from wealthtrack thread :
am a big fan of nuclear power, but the technology is far down the list of issues.
i suggest the podcast 'decoupled' ; it has covered the most (transparent) success cases have been canada , UAE, SK, and france; used old but well-proven technology via the largest scale plants. this success was largely due to a permanent experienced workforce coupled with actual scientists on the regulatory side. china may join the list here if they are are ever completely public about process and safety monitoring.
for SMRs, there is currently no method to select nor combine the best ideas, as dozens of companies have IP and money at stake.
but if this can be is done objectively, they must be mfg in VERY large numbers AND still have a permanent experienced workforce and protected from the whims of political interference. additional cost of a new grid model has a lot of unknowns, could it be more robust AND cheaper? probably not.
the u.s. is about as far away from any of these scenarios as it has ever been.
Comments
Who is SK?
Who built and licensed the UAE plant? Where did UAE get their operations personnel?
Is the knowledge of builders of nuclear aircraft carriers not useful? Must we invent the wheel?