Hardware Podcasts

Strong opinions on SMRs

Catalyst · 16 Feb 2023 · 45m

What this episode covers

Bret Kugelmass, CEO and founder of nuclear reactor developer Last Energy, argues that the slow progress of small modular reactors (SMRs) in North America is caused by a broken regulatory system and perverse market incentives rather than a lack of technology. He critiques the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) certification process as having no legal standing and costing billions, while explaining how historical cost-plus contracts destroyed the industry's ability to build cheaply. Kugelmass contrasts the stagnation in the U.S. with active construction in China and Poland, where political and energy security drivers are accelerating deployment of traditional reactor designs.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Last Energy, GE Hitachi, NuScale, Ontario Power Generation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Westinghouse
Products
Point Beach
Also
Titans of Nuclear

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