Small Modular Reactors
Factory-built nuclear power plants designed to provide lower-carbon, scalable baseload electricity with a smaller footprint than conventional large reactors.
Foresight tracks Small Modular Reactors developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
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2 April 2026, 09:35
Latest Small Modular Reactors alerts
The most recent regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight
UK Regulators Complete GDA Step 2 Fundamental Assessment for Holtec SMR-300 Reactor Design
UK regulators completed the Step 2 Fundamental Assessment for Holtec’s SMR-300 reactor design in March 2026, finding no fundamental environmental or safety shortfalls. This milestone reduces regulatory uncertainty for SMR deployment, signaling a clear path toward detailed design assessment and future site-specific permitting.
United KingdomEnvironment Agency and ONR Publish GDA Step 2 Fundamental Assessment for Holtec SMR-300 Reactor
UK regulators completed the Step 2 fundamental assessment of the Holtec SMR-300 reactor design in March 2026. This milestone reduces regulatory risk for prospective operators and signals progress toward the commercial deployment of small modular reactors in England and Wales.
United KingdomUS NRC Finalises Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors
The US NRC has finalized 10 CFR Part 53, establishing a risk-informed, technology-inclusive regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactors, effective April 29, 2026. This optional licensing pathway allows developers to tailor safety and security requirements to specific reactor designs, potentially reducing regulatory hurdles for next-generation nuclear deployment.
United StatesPeru Adopts Law 32560 on Nuclear Electricity Generation and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Peru has enacted Law No. 32560, establishing a national framework for nuclear power generation and the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Energy developers should monitor upcoming amendments to environmental impact assessment (SEIA) rules and radiological safety standards that will govern future licensing and site selection.
PeruUK Government Calls for Evidence on Nuclear Third Party Liability for Advanced Nuclear Technologies
The UK government has launched a call for evidence to review third-party liability frameworks for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) through June 2026. This review signals a move toward risk-proportionate liability limits, potentially reducing insurance burdens and financial barriers for developers of next-generation nuclear and integrated industrial projects.
United KingdomUK Government Confirms Environment Agency GDA Timelines for Holtec and Rolls-Royce SMR Designs
The UK Government has finalized Generic Design Assessment (GDA) timelines for Holtec and Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors, with completions targeted for 2026 and 2027. This regulatory clarity reduces pre-licensing uncertainty, enabling long-term investment and supply chain mobilization for the UK’s next-generation nuclear energy infrastructure.
United KingdomUK Defra Secretary of State Declares RR SMR Small Modular Reactor Design a Justified Practice Under JoPIIRR 2004
The UK government has formally designated the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (RR SMR) as a justified practice under ionising radiation regulations as of March 2026. This decision removes a critical regulatory barrier for SMR deployment, providing a clear pathway for nuclear technology commercialization and setting a benchmark for future modular reactor approvals.
United KingdomUS NRC Issues Construction Permit and Record of Decision for Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1
The US NRC issued a construction permit and Record of Decision for the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 on March 9, 2026, authorizing the start of facility construction. This decision signals a critical regulatory green light for advanced nuclear projects, emphasizing the NRC's commitment to safety and environmental standards in the transition to clean energy.
United StatesUK Government Publishes Nuclear Regulatory Overhaul Implementation Plan
The UK government has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of nuclear regulation, aiming to implement a faster, risk-based licensing framework by the end of 2027. This shift promises to reduce lead times for major energy infrastructure and modular reactor projects, requiring industry to adapt to new regulatory engagement models.
United KingdomChina MEE Issues Public Notice on EIA for Thorium-Based Molten Salt Reactor Research Facility
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has opened the public notice period for the site-selection environmental impact assessment of a thorium-based molten salt reactor facility through March 25, 2026. This move signals a strategic regulatory advancement for small modular reactor (SMR) technology, indicating a clear path toward diversifying nuclear energy infrastructure and future commercial deployment.
ChinaEuropean Commission Prepares SMR Strategy and Backs Nuclear-Powered Shipping Work
The European Commission is developing a dedicated European Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Strategy and coordinating international standards for nuclear-powered merchant shipping. This signals a shift toward harmonized licensing and safety frameworks, creating long-term opportunities for energy-intensive industries and the maritime sector to integrate modular nuclear technology.
European Union
GlobalEU Commission Communication on Clean Energy Investment Strategy
The European Commission has launched a Clean Energy Investment Strategy to mobilize nearly €700 billion annually through 2040, focusing on grid infrastructure, innovative technologies, and private capital de-risking. Businesses should anticipate a shift toward "energy efficiency as a service" models and increased availability of EU-backed financing for industrial decarbonization and storage ahead of a major post-2030 legislative package.
European UnionEU Commission Announces European Strategy for Small Modular Reactors and ETS-Funded Nuclear Investment Guarantee
The European Commission has launched a new strategy to deploy Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by the early 2030s, backed by a EUR 200 million investment guarantee. This shift positions nuclear energy as a core pillar of EU industrial competitiveness, signaling upcoming regulatory sandboxes and cross-border alignment to streamline nuclear supply chains.
European UnionUnited States Statute Compilation For Public Law 118-67 (ADVANCE Act Of 2024) On Advanced Nuclear Licensing And Oversight
The US ADVANCE Act of 2024 establishes a new regulatory framework to accelerate the licensing and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, micro-reactors, and fusion technology. Stakeholders should anticipate reduced licensing fees and expedited approval timelines, alongside heightened supply chain scrutiny regarding nuclear fuel sourcing and international exports.
United StatesEU Parliament ITRE Draft Report On Instrument For Nuclear Safety Cooperation And Decommissioning 2028–2034
The EU Parliament’s ITRE committee has published its draft report on the 2028–2034 nuclear safety and decommissioning instrument, proposing a unified framework for internal and external safety cooperation. The amendments signal a push for greater transparency in third-country partnerships and strategic protection of European interests in emerging technologies like small modular reactors.
European UnionGermany Environment Ministry Rejects Small Modular Reactors In Favour Of Renewable Energy
Germany’s Environment Ministry has formally rejected Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a viable energy solution, reaffirming its commitment to renewables over nuclear power. This signal confirms that Germany will maintain high regulatory barriers for nuclear technologies, focusing industrial and energy policy exclusively on the expansion of renewable infrastructure.
GermanyUS NRC Accepts Phased Construction Permit and Limited Work Authorization Application for Pioneer Units 1 and 2
The US NRC has docketed a phased construction permit and limited work authorization application for two SMR-300 small modular reactor units in Michigan, initiating the formal safety and environmental review process. This marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of small modular reactor technology, signaling a clear regulatory pathway for next-generation nuclear energy infrastructure.
United StatesUS DOE Reopens Comment Period on Worker Safety and Health Requirements for Nuclear Reactor Testing
The US DOE has extended the comment period to March 23, 2026, for proposed worker safety updates intended to streamline advanced nuclear reactor testing. This delay underscores significant stakeholder scrutiny of labor protections, signaling that regulatory efforts to accelerate nuclear deployment must balance speed with rigorous HSE compliance.
United StatesUnited States Amends International Financial Institutions Act To Support Multilateral Development Bank Nuclear Energy Financing
The US has enacted legislation mandating that its representatives at multilateral development banks advocate for nuclear energy financing and the creation of dedicated assistance trust funds. This shift signals a long-term policy commitment to global nuclear expansion, providing a competitive financing framework for Western nuclear technologies and small modular reactors against non-OECD competitors.
United StatesUnited States NEIMA Statute Compilation Highlights 2027 NRC Advanced Reactor Rulemaking Deadline
The U.S. has consolidated the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA), highlighting a 2027 deadline for a new technology-inclusive advanced reactor licensing framework. This move streamlines the path for next-generation nuclear deployment by shifting toward risk-informed oversight and predictable fee structures for developers.
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