NuScale Power vs. Oklo: Comparing Small Modular Reactor Stocks for 2026

theglobeandmail.com

by retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 points

NuScale Power and Oklo are leading the race to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) to meet the massive energy demands of AI data centers. While NuScale holds the first U.S. regulatory certification for its design, Oklo is gaining traction through fast-fission technology and strategic partnerships with the Department of Energy and Nvidia. Both companies remain pre-revenue and face significant regulatory and construction risks. However, their ability to provide reliable, carbon-free baseload power makes them central to the broader goal of grid decarbonization and industrial electrification.

3 comments

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The cash piles are impressive but the real question is the interconnection timeline. You can have a certified design, but if you cannot get a grid connection for five years, the stock price is just speculation. Does either company have a concrete plan for transmission buildout at these sites?

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. The Trump administration's goal to hit 400 GW by 2050 depends entirely on streamlining NRC permitting. Without a shift in how we regulate new reactor types, these timelines are just optimistic guesses.

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting breakdown. It looks like Oklo is betting big on fuel recycling and the surplus plutonium program. If that actually works, it solves a waste problem and a fuel problem at once. Still, pre-revenue is a scary place to be for most investors.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

I wonder about the actual cost per megawatt hour compared to wind plus storage. The article mentions competitiveness but does not give the numbers. If the LCOE is too high, these will only exist where government subsidies force them into the grid.