A significant number of potential nuclear power plant customers have constraints on the size of allowable and needed increments of power capacity additions, which are smaller than the 1000 MWe and larger ratings of currently offered advanced reactors. The allowable size of additions reflects the somewhat contorted grid layout and interconnections in several US regions. Needed size increments reflect anticipated growth in load demand and incentives to replace older, small generating stations, mostly coal burning, with those using other fuels. As well, since the smaller SMRs should take less time to build than 1000 MWe units, demand forecasts need to be projected for fewer years out than are presently needed. Further markets for small nuclear units are emerging in smaller developing countries which have not previously embarked on nuclear power utilization. In developed countries with well-established nuclear power programs, remote regions and sites vital for national security exist which have power needs that can ideally be supplied by SMRs. Additionally, SMRs in these countries can supply process heat on the scale appropriate to commercial chemical processing plant needs.

These major incentives for SMRs are buttressed by several other desirable factors deriving from the small SMR characteristics:

• effective protection of plant investment from the potential to achieve a reactor design with enhanced safety characteristics;

• possible reduction of the current 10-mile emergency planning zone by virtue of the smaller core inventory and potential for added safety design features;

• reduction of transmission requirements and a more robust, more reliable grid;

• use of components which do not require the ultra-heavy forgings of today’s gigawatt-scale nuclear power plants and are rail shippable which could be supplied by a reinvigorated US heavy industry; and

• suitability for the district heating mission.