# Strong opinions on SMRs

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-02-16
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [5:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs#t=319) Defining SMRs and the Reality of Nuclear Construction
- [10:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs#t=617) Global Nuclear Development: China, Poland, and the US
- [17:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs#t=1064) Analyzing Recent SMR Announcements: GE Hitachi and NuScale
- [21:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs#t=1313) The NRC Licensing Process and Institutional Flaws
- [36:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs#t=2188) Historical Cost Drivers and Market Incentives
- [41:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs#t=2508) Last Energy's Strategy and Micro Reactors

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Last Energy (company)
- GE Hitachi (company)
- NuScale (company)
- Ontario Power Generation (company)
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (company)
- Westinghouse (company)
- Point Beach (product)
- Titans of Nuclear (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [AM Rocket Engines and Space Nuclear Power with Omar Mireles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-06-23-am-rocket-engines-and-space-nuclear-power-with-omar-mireles) (Additive Snack)
- [Challenges for Regulatory Submission: EU vs. US](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-05-06-challenges-for-regulatory-submission-eu-vs-us) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-16-strong-opinions-on-smrs. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.