bert hubert 🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦'In practice, a “small” reactor brings all the big problems of a conventional reactor: dangerous radioactive fuel, complex safety systems, and the risk of catastrophic failure or sabotage. The only thing that’s truly small about SMRs is their inability to benefit from the economies of scale that, in theory, were supposed to make large reactors affordable — but never actually did.' - https://www.climateandcapitalmedia.com/the-nuclear-mirage-why-small-modular-reactors-wont-save-nuclear-power/
trademark@bert_hubert Best argument against is that multiple navies have made small modular reactors, none of them are cheap. The US navy for instance, went hard for an all nuclear fleet, but gave up and now only do their carriers and subs. And this even though they don't need to budget anything for security, they already have armed soldiers anyway. And they can get the fuel for free as surplus weapons stock.
Walter van Holst@trademark @bert_hubert Also, the enrichment levels of their fuel puts those designs out of reach for civilian use, because of proliferation risks. A compact reactor for low-levels of enrichment levels is much harder because of that.
@whvholst @bert_hubert especially if they heed the warning of Richard Garwin and reduce allowed enrichment down to 10% https://rlg.fas.org/haleu-science.pdf (Garwin designed the first H-bomb so when he signs his name it's good enough for me)