Small Reactors: Big Questions?

Ireland is at the forefront of renewable energy, with wind and solar playing a central role in the electricity mix.

But rising demand combined with the intermittency of renewable generation raises real questions about how the country can securely and affordably source its electricity while cutting emissions. Against this backdrop, nuclear power, and in particular Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), have become part of the conversation.

It’s also the subject of an Energy Law Ireland panel discussion this month. Ahead of that conversation, in the first of two William Fry articles on SMRs, here’s where the debate currently stands.

What problem are advocates of SMRs trying to solve?

Ireland’s electricity demand keeps climbing. Data centres account for more than a fifth of electricity consumption on the island, and continued growth in AI, cloud computing and digital infrastructure will add further pressure, alongside the decarbonisation-driven electrification of heat and transport. At the