The small reactor has two attributes that can meet this cost challenge. Firstly, the smaller physical size of the vessels permits larger assemblies to be transported to site in a complete and tested condition. The implication is that a significantly higher portion of the plant can be built and tested in a factory prior to delivery.

The second facet is that small reactors are deployed in larger volumes to meet the same capacity requirement. This larger volume justifies investment in manufacturing techniques that larger, low volume nuclear plants have been unable to justify previously. Building plants at these projected volumes present a challenge significantly different to anything the nuclear industry has encountered previously.