The SMR Economics Working Group (SMR-ECON) operates under the Nuclear Development Committee (NDC) and focuses on advancing understanding of the costs and economics associated with the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). The group supports evidence-based decision-making by analysing lessons from comparable industries, identifying cost drivers, and evaluating pathways to more efficient and cost-effective deployment. Its work contributes to a clearer understanding of the factors influencing SMR competitiveness and informs policy discussions on their potential role in future energy systems. 

Mandate 

The SMR-ECON studies the cost and economics of the deployment of SMRs in line with the NDC Programme of Work (PoW). 

Scope and Objectives  

 The SMR-ECON:  

1. Consolidates evidence from other comparable industries that have achieved economies of multiple with serial construction. This will include summarising evidence from academic literature, as well as case studies from specific industries; 
2. Review slessons-learned from other industries and their applicability for the deployment of SMRs. This will include exploring how cost reduction opportunities may evolve between the first units to be commercially deployed in the near-term and longer-term scenarios with large-scale factory-based construction; and 
3. Provides analysis to policy makers on SMR costs and economics, including economies of multiple and interplay with regulatory and other relevant policy frameworks.