34: Thinking Big With Small Reactors

Small modular reactors, or SMRs, are attracting growing interest as a potential source of reliable, lower-carbon electricity for industries, data centers, and countries that may not need, or be able to finance, a large conventional nuclear plant. Turning that potential into real-world projects, however, requires more than innovative reactor designs—it depends on financing, manufacturing, regulation, workforce training, and public confidence.

A new agreement between the United States, South Korea, and Japan aims to strengthen cooperation on deploying SMRs internationally. The partnership could offer countries another option alongside emerging Chinese and Russian nuclear-export models. In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Gabriel Collins and Henry Haggard discuss what it would take for  SMRs to become a practical, competitive option for countries seeking reliable power and long-term energy security.

Featured:

• Gabriel Collins, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/gabriel-collins
• Henry Haggard, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/henry-haggard

 

This episode was recorded on Aug. 11, 2026. 

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