Impossibly large reactors

A balanced article in The Ecologist reflects a view that European or Evolutionary Pressurised Reactors (EPR) are so large that the steel reactor vessels are difficult to build.

There is much in the EPR concept which is to be commended in terms of safety and efficiency, but the reactors are just too big.  None of the waste heat can be used because the units are sited miles away from population centres.  Existing builds in France, China, and Finland are behind schedule.  There will be a late return on investment.

Compare that to small modular reactors (SMR) which can be built alongside each other, rather like many boiler rigs.  As soon as a unit is installed it can begin working to produce income and funding for its successors.

If these SMRs were designed to produce heat and/or electricity for their local communities we would be onto a winner.  Much of our existing mega power station thinking is for base load rather than flexibility.  Nuclear power supplementing renewables would be ideal.

My second novel includes the genesis of such a design.

Here's to realistic futuristic thinking,

Elder Adok