Pulse of the Engineering Profession: Small Modular Reactors

It’s far from hyperbole to say that humanity now finds itself at a pivotal time for energy innovation. As the need for climate solutions becomes ever more pressing, a global array of engineers is investigating possibilities not only for reducing the amount of fossil fuels needed to power the world, but also for generating electricity without using them at all.
 
Enter nuclear power, a form of electricity generation that’s existed for 72 years and counting—and is now shifting into a new and exciting era. With the advent of the Small Modular Reactor (SMR), a more adaptable cousin to the large-scale reactors of yesteryear, fresh possibilities for siting, building, moving, and grouping reactors are coming to the fore. The net result? A renewed sense of possibility that’s enlivening the nuclear field.