SMR nuclear capacity forecast to jump nearly sixfold by 2030 as demand for low-carbon power grows

carboncredits.com

by policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 points

A new forecast from GlobalData predicts global small modular reactor (SMR) capacity could increase nearly sixfold between 2025 and 2030. The growth is driven by rising electricity demand from AI, data centers, and industrial electrification, plus policy support for firm low-carbon power. SMRs are designed to be built in factories and assembled on site, which backers say could cut construction time and improve cost control. Major projects are moving forward, including GE Hitachi's BWRX-300 at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site and Holtec International's SMR-300 at the Palisades site in Michigan. The IEA expects over 1,000 SMRs worldwide by 2050, with investment rising from about $5 billion today to more than $25 billion by 2030. Early projects will test whether SMRs can deliver on cost, speed, and performance at scale.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Sixfold by 2030 sounds big but the starting base is tiny. Need to see how many of these projects actually get built on time.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. GE Hitachi's Darlington project is one to watch. If that slips, the whole forecast gets shaky.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Interconnection queues and NRC licensing timelines are the real bottleneck. Even modular designs still need site permits and grid upgrades.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Grid capacity is the hidden issue. Even if SMRs get built, transmission to data centers and industrial zones takes years.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The IEA scenario assumes strong policy support. Without production tax credits or streamlined licensing, the hundredfold by 2040 number is a stretch.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Nobody talks about the cooling water requirements for SMRs. In drought-prone regions that could be a real constraint.