Mini Nuclear ReactorsNuclear power gives the UK around 20% of its electricity. It also provides valuable research into medical imaging, space travel and food preservation.
There are some countries, such as Germany who feel that nuclear power is unsafe. That it is too expensive, and there is too much uncertainty over what happens to the nuclear waste.
Find out more about Germany’s energy mix here.
This image shows what an underground small modular reactor might look like. You can see the size of the reactors (the tube shaped objects on the left and right) compared to the lorry parked at the top of the image.
What if we could have smaller versions of nuclear power stations, that follow the same strict safety rules of their larger versions and provide the same clean energy, but with a few differences that could make them an even more positive part of our energy mix?
In 2016 in the UK, the government set up a competition to see who can come up with a good idea for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
As of Nov 2021, the UK government invested £210 million to the winner, click here to find out more.
It allows the government to see if people want to invest in this type of technology before any big plans are made.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The difference between SMRs and regular nuclear power stations comes down to four main points: safety, cost, size and flexibility. Hover over the image below to learn more.
