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The Paris-based Nuclear Energy Agency in July released the latest edition of the NEA Small Modular Reactor Dashboard, analyzing 74 SMR designs to assess advancements in the areas of licensing, siting, financing, supply chain, engagement and fuel. “The strategic drivers for SMR deployment — rising electricity demand, including from data centers and expanding digital services, energy security imperatives and national goals set by many countries to reduce carbon emissions — are intensifying,” said NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV. “SMRs are now a core part of the energy strategies in an increasing number of countries in all parts of the world.” Joe Hines of Timmons Group broached the topic of SMR deployment for data centers with an exclusive contribution to the July 2024 issue of Site Selection, part of ongoing reporting on data centers that earned the publication a silver Azbee Award for the Southeast region from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE).
Viewed through the filter of headquarters locations for the companies developing the SMR concepts, more than one-third of the designs (27) come from U.S. companies. Next in line come France with 10, Japan with six and China and Russia with five each. As for achieving various stages of siting and deployment, the U.S. still leads with 27, followed by Canada with nine, the UK with seven, Russia with five, and China and Poland with four each. Russia and China each have two projects that have begun or completed construction, while the U.S., Argentina and Japan have one apiece, including the Kairos Power project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, featured in the January 2025 issue of Site Selection.
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