Selecting the Right SMR Design for Strategic Success

In the energy sector, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), offer unique advantages in terms of footprint, safety and modular construction. With technological advancement and the growing diversity of SMR designs, it is now critical to understand their development and characteristics before selecting the right solution for your project. Technology selection requires more than just a technical evaluation; it also involves strategic alignment with business objectives. 

Not every SMR is suitable for every use case. Factors such as site constraints, power requirements, heat applications, licensing pathways and operational models all influence what “right” looks like for each organization. A structured, criteria-based approach to selecting technology is key to making informed, future-ready decisions.

While technology assessment procedures can vary depending on the decision-making framework used; key steps typically include:

1. Defining mission and business objectives: Start by clearly stating the organisation’s aim, whether it’s decarbonizing operations, enhancing energy security, entering new energy markets or repowering existing assets. Also, any required additional production functions (e.g., supplying district heating, hydrogen production, etc.) must be identified.
2. Identifying the technologies of interest: Conduct a broad scan of available or emerging SMR designs based on client priorities, technology readiness and market availability.
3. Developing technology assessment criteria: This critical activity involves co-developing evaluation of criteria with the client to reflect both strategic goals and operational considerations. For organizations that will also be the licensee or plant operator, this step ensures long-term ownership needs are fully integrated into the process.
4. Down-selecting candidate technologies for detailed evaluation: Technologies are screened using factors tied to business needs, such as licensing feasibility, infrastructure compatibility or fuel type, resulting in a shortlist of viable candidates.
5. Evaluating candidate technologies: The shortlisted SMR designs are then evaluated against detailed, weighted criteria.

Developing technology criteria is a critical step in any technology selection process. It ensures that the evaluation incorporates both the strategic objectives and key operational considerations of the organization. When the requesting organization is also the potential owner-operator (licensee), it becomes especially important to align the selection criteria with the organization’s business goals. This alignment guarantees that the chosen technology meets current operational needs and is scalable and adaptable to future requirements following deployment.

The down-selection of candidate technologies provides a screening step based on exclusionary (i.e., “go/no-go”) attributes relevant to business needs and objectives. The down-selected technologies will then go on to be evaluated in detail based on assessment criteria. Key topics that will support evaluation include:

• Licensing status
• Fuel used
• Design maturity
• Desired technology uses
• Safety features
• Site-specific requirements (if a site is chosen)
• Maintenance and operations
• Cost and schedule for initial build
• Construction philosophy, with specific attention to modularity principles for SMR deployment

Jensen Hughes can guide clients through a technology selection process tailored to their business objectives and requirements. Our team of experts helps organizations systematically rank various alternatives based on importance measures defined by the client. 

By leveraging our structured and client-focused technology selection process, Jensen Hughes empowers organizations to make informed, strategic decisions aligned with long-term business goals. Our multidisciplinary team brings deep technical expertise and industry insight to guide clients through each phase – from defining objectives to evaluating technologies – ensuring that every recommendation is tailored to operational needs, regulatory requirements and future scalability. Whether you're exploring advanced technologies for deployment or refining your existing infrastructure, we provide the clarity, confidence and customized support needed to choose the right solution for your business.