What are small modular nuclear reactors, and why are tech companies investing billions in them?

The answer

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are nuclear reactors producing under 300 megawatts electrical (compared to 1,000+ MW for conventional reactors), designed for factory fabrication and modular deployment. In 2024, major tech companies made unprecedented nuclear commitments: Microsoft signed a 20-year deal to restart Three Mile Island's Unit 1, Google agreed to purchase power from Kairos Power's SMRs, and Amazon invested $500 million in SMR company X-energy. NuScale Power received the first-ever US SMR design certification from the NRC in 2023, though its initial Utah project was canceled due to cost overruns. China connected its HTR-PM high-temperature gas-cooled reactor to the grid in December 2023 - the world's first operational Generation IV reactor. SMRs promise enhanced safety through passive cooling systems that shut down without human intervention or external power, addressing the primary public concern about nuclear energy.