Several countries are now eyeing a strategy for using nuclear power that could reduce their reliance on fossil fuels over the coming years: installing small modular reactors (SMRs) on or near the site of retired coal fired plants.

Harmonisation is an innovative approach which, if successful, can support both newcomer and mature nuclear nations. Global nuclear regulators, World Nuclear Association's CORDEL, IAEA and WENRA must work together to ensure that harmonised SMR deployment is conducted safely and efficiently.

Romania’s energy minister Virgil Popescu said: "I thank our American partners for supporting Romania's nuclear programmes, a bilateral strategic partnership started in the 1980s.

SK said the cooperation between TerraPower and group member companies SK Corporation and SK Innovation will "contribute to fostering the next-generation nuclear power plant industry in Korea through cooperation in securing and commercialising core SMR technology ...

Russian scientific institutes will begin testing fuel rods for small modular reactors (SMRs),

The Nuward - consisting of a 340 MWe SMR plant with two pressurised water reactors (PWRs) of 170 MWe each - has been jointly developed using France's experience in PWRs.

The British government asked its nuclear regulator to start the approval process in March, having backed Rolls-Royce's $546 million funding round in November to develop the country's first SMR reactor.

Laurentis is currently providing services to a number of SMR clients including Canadian nuclear utilities, Canadian non-nuclear utilities, European utilities, European non-nuclear utilities, and Canadian government departments. Fermi Energia was founded by Estonian energy and nuclear energy professionals to develop deployment of SMRs in Estonia.

Nuclear's share of energy in the UK is currently about 16%, however almost half of the country's current capacity is due to be retired by 2025 and all but one of its reactors will retire by 2030.

Microreactors are one of the three development streams identified in a joint strategic plan setting out a path for developing and deploying SMRs released by the governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta in March, and Bruce in 2020 agreed with Westinghouse Electric Company to pursue applications of Westinghouse's eVinci microreactor within Canada.