Pentagon spurs US microreactor race but commercial hurdles remain

[Marlin]

https://www.reutersevents.com/nuclear/pentagon-spurs-us-microreactor-race-commercial-hurdles-remain

[Core Content]

The Department of Defense is funding microreactor development to provide off-grid power for military installations and communication networks. While the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established a new licensing pathway to accelerate deployment, industry analysts note that high costs and fuel supply challenges continue to hinder the transition to large-scale commercial use.

Proponents argue that the small size of microreactors, which typically feature capacities of between 1 MW and 20 MW, can be developed faster than larger small modular reactors (SMRs), partly through factory fabrication and faster approvals thanks to a new regulatory pathway announced by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in April...

Military backing is driving U.S. microreactor development but industry experts warn that higher costs, as well as safety and fuel challenges, could stall a large-scale commercial roll out.

First-of-a-kind (FOAK) microreactors are being developed for defence purposes because their small size makes them suitable to provide off-grid power for military installations, communication networks and weapons systems that currently rely mainly on diesel.

Read the full article at reutersevents.com:
https://www.reutersevents.com/nuclear/pentagon-spurs-us-microreactor-race-commercial-hurdles-remain