Resource Requirements and Proliferation Risks Associated with Small Modular Reactors

We analyze the contours of an expanded nuclear generation capacity and the associated fuel cycles. We find that SMRs based on light-­water reactor technology have higher resource requirements as compared to gigawatt-­scale reactors. SMRs with long-lived cores have much lower resource requirements but a higher fissile content in the spent fuel. These characteristics translate into increased proliferation risks unless they are offset by reactor design features or dedicated safeguards approaches.