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Topic: Nuclear Energy Blog Brand: Energy World Region: Americas, Asia, and Europe Tags: China, European Union (EU), Floating SMRs, North America, Slovakia, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and United States Nuclear Energy Now – China Is Set to Launch Its First SMR December 19, 2025 By: Emily Day
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Nuclear Energy Now tracks the latest nuclear energy developments across technology, diplomacy, industry trends, and geopolitics.
Slovakia Signals a Shift in Its Nuclear Energy Strategy
President Donald Trump has invited Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to the United States in mid-2026 to sign an agreement, which was approved this fall, that could pave the way for Westinghouse to participate in a new nuclear power plant project valued at roughly $11–13 billion. Slovakia had previously chosen Westinghouse as its preferred partner for the planned 1,200 megawatt (MW) unit, which would be Slovakia’s largest investment and a notable shift for a nuclear sector historically aligned with Russian technology and fuel. The US-Slovakia agreement would mark an initial step forward, with feasibility studies and a final contract expected by 2027.
Slovakia currently operates five nuclear reactors, which provide the second-highest share of nuclear energy among European Union (EU) member states, with a sixth unit expected to come online in 2026, raising nuclear power’s contribution to the country’s energy mix. Despite its high share of nuclear generation, Slovakia has been one of the few EU member states to push back on European and US pressure to reduce Russian energy dependence, arguing that it would be too costly to cut off Russian supplies. However, if finalized, the deal would take steps to reduce that dependency and would expand US nuclear footholds in Central Europe, mirroring recent US efforts to deepen nuclear cooperation with regional partners such as Hungary.
China Is Set to Launch Its First SMR
China is expected to begin commercial operation of its first small modular reactor (SMR), the Linglong One, also known as the ACP100, in the first half of 2026, according to officials from China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The reactor, located in Hainan Province, was the first SMR design approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2016, with construction starting in 2021, and cold-function tests being completed in October of this year. Chinese officials have said that SMRs will be used to meet electricity demand in regions with weaker grids, including islands, and that the design has a strong export potential. If timelines hold, China will become the first country to operate an SMR commercially, years ahead of the United States, where SMR projects are still in early phases.
South Korea Secures Certification for Floating SMR Platform
South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries received Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of Shipping for a floating nuclear power platform. The platform incorporates two SMART100 SMRs, which can each generate up to 110 megawatts of electricity. The units are designed to have a 60-year lifespan and require refueling every three years. In the process, Samsung led the engineering and integration of the reactors, while the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute modified the original reactor design so it could be used offshore. While the approval is specifically for a platform using the SMART100 design, it could be adapted in the future to use other SMR technologies, broadening its export appeal.
About the Author: Emily Day
Emily Day is an experienced researcher, writer, and editor with expertise in geopolitics, nuclear energy, and global security. She is an associate editor of Energy World and Techland at The National Interest and a senior research associate at Longview Global Advisors, where she provides insights on global political and economic trends with a specialization in utilities, risk, sustainability, and technology. She was previously a Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellow at the Partnership for Global Security.
Image: hrui/shutterstock
The post Nuclear Energy Now – China Is Set to Launch Its First SMR appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org