Short abstract:

Relying on a grey literature review and interviews with experts involved the design of a novel SMR concept, the present paper tries to unwrap the key promise narratives upheld by SMR proponents and the extent to which these narratives are actually endorsed by experts who design SMRs.

Long abstract:

In the ongoing quest for flexible, cheap, and decarbonized solutions for future energy networks, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are increasingly publicized as a compelling option for future nuclear energy generation. While promoters, such as SMR vendors or international nuclear organizations, do publicly advertise the techno-scientific promises of SMRs, there is still scant evidence that such promises are actually shared among the scientists and engineers who actively develop such novel reactor designs. As such, which are the main promise narratives upheld by SMR proponents? And to what extent are these narratives endorsed by experts involved in the design of SMRs?

A literature review including white papers, commercial factsheets, and technical reports published by SMR proponents was conducted to identify the main categories of promise narratives mobilized by these actors. We then confronted these narratives with the expectations of 25 European experts actively involved the design of a sodium-fast SMR concept.

Far from the solutionism (Pfotenhauer, 2022) displayed in SMR proponent’s promise narratives, preliminary results indicate that interviewees do entertain some degree of skepticism regarding the publicly projected benefits of SMRs in terms of costs, safety, or public acceptance. Yet, according to interviewees, SMRs do embody the promise of a future nuclear revival. In their perspective, going small would allow to attract investors and scale-up the production of small, cheap, yet less efficient nuclear systems. This would allow to gradually build back lost nuclear competences that are required to build large reactors, which are considered the preferred option for nuclear energy generation.