America Is Betting Big on a New Generation of Small Nuclear Reactors

America is heavily investing in small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of its plan to revitalize nuclear power, with the U.S. Army reportedly leading the country's microreactor development efforts. SMRs are compact nuclear reactors, with a capacity of up to 300 MWe per unit, or about one-third of a traditional nuclear plant's output.

Due to their smaller size, they can be built in factories and transported to their sites, making them more cost-effective and faster to construct than conventional reactors. These reactors can also be built incrementally to match a site's growing energy needs and are ideal for rural areas lacking access to the main power grid. In the U.S., the Department of Energy supports various advanced reactor designs, aligning with President Trump's goal of quadrupling nuclear power production by 2050.

In July, Aalo, a Texas-based company, reported that its Critical Test Reactor (CTR) achieved criticality, marking a significant milestone in microreactor development. The Army has allocated up to $2.2 billion for five companies to construct new-generation microreactors at military bases across the U.S., with the goal of deploying at least one by the third quarter of 2028.

The reactors are designed to be safe, with self-adjusting capabilities and the ability to operate for up to 10 years without refueling.