Why are small modular nuclear reactors making a comeback?

The answer

New nuclear power designs gained significant momentum in 2025-2026, with small modular reactors (SMRs) leading the charge. Unlike traditional nuclear plants that take a decade to build and cost $10+ billion, SMRs are factory-built, truck-transportable, and can be operational in 3–4 years. They use alternative fuels and passive cooling systems that physically cannot melt down. Tech giants including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon signed agreements to power their AI data centers with SMR nuclear energy, driven by AI's enormous electricity demand. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission advanced several SMR designs through the approval process, and countries from Poland to Indonesia announced plans to deploy SMRs by the end of the decade.