Gary Sandquist, Emeritus Prof. of Mechanical Engineering, U. of Utah: On the horizon are U.S, (Russian and Chinese) -designed small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) that range from 50 to 300 megawatts electrical power output. These designs include modularity, efficient factory construction, rapid siting and exceptional safe operation. SMRs are less expensive and easier and faster to site and build than conventional 1,200-megawatt nuclear plants. (Nuclear power applications range from extremely small units for multi-year space missions to very small nuclear power units for military and scientific use, to Small Modular Reactors talked about here, to conventional large commercial nuclear power plants, on up to much larger, proposed nuclear energy centers with multiple applications.)
