New Delhi, April 30 -- Several companies in the United States are developing small modular reactors (SMRs) as a new approach to nuclear energy, aimed at reducing capital costs and improving flexibility in deployment, according to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The report noted that the US currently operates about 98 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear generating capacity, but very little new capacity has been added in recent decades due to high capital costs and long licensing processes. SMRs are being seen as a solution to these challenges.

Unlike traditional large-scale nuclear reactors, which typically have a capacity between 550 megawatts (MW) and 1,500 MW per unit, SMRs have a capacity of about 300 MW per unit ...