Electricity demand is soaring, and some think the answer isn’t building bigger, but smaller. That’s the idea behind small modular reactors (SMRs): take a large-scale nuclear plant that’s hard to build, and shrink it down to something that’s more manageable, cheaper and easier to replicate. Instead of one huge nuclear plant, you build 10 small ones. 

Right now these kinds of small modular reactors are in the startup phase, with only two in commercial operation in Russia and China. So how viable is the business for these small modular reactors? And will SMRs ever become a scaled up solution for our energy needs? Rachel Slaybaugh joins Akshat Rathi on Zero to discuss. 

Explore further:
What Are Small Nuclear Reactors and How Do SMRs Help Solve Climate Change?
Canada to Build $15 Billion Modular Nuclear Plant, First in G-7
UK Selects Rolls-Royce to Build First Small Modular Reactors
China is Home to World's First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor

Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Eleanor Harrison Dengate, Siobhan Wagner, Sommer Saadi and Mohsis Andam. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

Electricity demand is soaring, and some think the answer isn&rsquo;t building bigger, but smaller. That&rsquo;s the idea behind small modular reactors (SMRs): take a large-scale nuclear plant that&rsquo;s hard to build, and shrink it down to something that&rsquo;s more manageable, cheaper and easier to replicate. Instead of one huge nuclear plant, you build 10 small ones.&nbsp;
Right now these kinds of small modular reactors are in the startup phase, with only two in commercial operation in Russia and China. So how viable is the business for these small modular reactors? And will SMRs ever become a scaled up solution for our energy needs? Rachel Slaybaugh joins Akshat Rathi on Zero to discuss.&nbsp;
Explore further:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-30/can-small-nuclear-reactors-help-solve-climate-change">What Are Small Nuclear Reactors and How Do SMRs Help Solve Climate Change?</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-08/canada-to-build-small-nuclear-reactor-in-first-for-g7-power">Canada to Build $15 Billion Modular Nuclear Plant, First in G-7</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-10/uk-picks-rolls-royce-for-next-generation-atomic-power-technology">UK Selects Rolls-Royce to Build First Small Modular Reactors</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-21/new-reactor-spotlights-china-s-push-to-lead-way-in-nuclear-power">China is Home to World's First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor</a></li>
</ul>
Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Eleanor Harrison Dengate, Siobhan Wagner, Sommer Saadi and Mohsis Andam. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/green">https://www.bloomberg.com/green</a>.

Zero is about the tactics and technologies taking us to a world of zero emissions. Each week Bloomberg’s award-winning reporter Akshat Rathi talks to the people tackling climate change – a venture capitalist hunting for the best cleantech investment, scientists starting companies, politicians who have successfully created climate laws, and CEOs who have completely transformed their businesses. The road to zero emissions has many paths and everyone’s got an opinion about the best route. Listen in.

Zero: The Climate Race

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Build small, grow fast: Can small modular reactors live up to the hype?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b4900acb-b6db-4ddf-9525-b3380093c80d/transcript