The SMR supply chain is an interconnected process that spans digital design, factory fabrication, on-site assembly, and decades of specialized operations. It is a factory-centric model designed to replace costly, unpredictable construction with the precision of assembly line manufacturing, delivering resilient and predictable clean power.
While the quality of materials is a top priority, equally important are the people and partnerships that go into building and operating these frontier facilities.
We have already looked at the nuclear fuel cycle in depth, so today let’s see what else goes into bringing an SMR online.
Phase 1: Designing the Digital Core
As with all nuclear plants, expert physicists, materials scientists and safety engineers start by creating the blueprint for the reactor and other systems for generating electricity, high-quality heat, hydrogen and more. They work closely with regulatory bodies early in the design process to ensure every safety requirement is met.
At this stage, SMR firms also set up critical partnerships with other vendors for necessary materials and services. This allows company leadership to focus on continuously improving the design while benefitting from the decades of specific experience that other firms can bring to building and maintaining major industrial facilities.
SMRs being designed today incorporate advanced digital systems for remote monitoring and control. Sophisticated virtual replicas of the physical plant – also known as Digital Twin technology – are key to ensuring stable and predictable power generation. These models of the facility and supply network simulate disruptions and optimize delivery schedules. Once the plant is operational, these are often updated in real-time. In StarCore’s case, we use satellites to ensure everything is working well.
Environmental consultants and geologists are also a crucial component of this phase. Safety is a top priority when building SMRs – not only for the facility, but also for the neighboring communities and environment. Thorough assessments and planning minimize any long-term impact.
Phase 2: Factory Fabrication and Precision Parts
All nuclear plants aim to maximize affordability through economies of scale. Traditional, larger plants do so by building one massive facility. With SMRs, the scale is achieved through serial production – making identical units in a controlled factory setting.
These factories allow for transportable modules to be built with strict quality assurance standards, reducing the amount of high-precision work needed at the actual deployment site. It also provides a better environment for complex robotics and advanced industrial automation tools that increase consistency across many components.
Factory production also simplifies the supply chain for raw materials as they can be located closer to major shipping hubs. To illustrate the value of this, we can look at the thick steel needed for the main reactor vessel.
Globally, only a limited number of facilities can produce these massive, nuclear-grade forgings. Assembling the reactor in a factory significantly reduces the cost and risks of damage to the material compared to creating a safe environment for this sensitive construction on-site.
There are also benefits to the nuclear workforce in moving this fabrication to factories. We need highly specialized people such as nuclear-certified welders and Non-Destructive Examination technicians to verify the integrity of every critical weld and part to ensure absolute safety. By placing our factories in more central locations, we can attract and retain a skilled team that can spend more time at home.
Phase 3: Site Assembly and Connection
Following the factory work, the location is prepared for construction. While less nuclear-certified specialists are required on-site, it still requires a substantial and skilled team. For reference, StarCore’s SMR footprint is approximately three acres.
The modules are transported via rail, barge, or specialized truck to their final location. Logistics specialists and heavy haul teams manage the complex task of securing transport permits and overcoming infrastructure limitations. Crane operators and riggers then perform highly complex heavy lifts to position the components on-site.
Licensed electricians, pipefitters, mechanical engineers and other contractors are needed to grade the land, pour high-density concrete, assemble the components and more.
Phase 4: Operations, Maintenance, and Resilience
The long operational phase of SMRs is defined by the ongoing need for highly specialized staff.
Licensed Reactor Operators manage the plant daily through its decades-long lifespan. Instrument & Control technicians maintain the complex digital systems. Health Physics Technicians manage the facility’s radiological compliance and train personnel on proper safety protocols.
The maintenance supply chain focuses on managing long-lead spare parts like specialized valves and digital circuit boards. Digital twins help maintenance teams simulate component degradation, optimizing preventative maintenance schedules far in advance.
Foundations for the Future
There is already a robust supply chain for power plants and other large industrial projects, and these can support much of what is required to build an SMR.
We can look to other industries such as aerospace for proof that factory-based industrial economies of scale can successfully produce precise and reliable machinery.
As of publication, there are currently no commercially operating SMRs in G7 countries. Canada’s approved Darlington SMR would be the first and was recently added to the federal government’s list of Nation Building Projects. This signals that building an SMR will do more than provide power locally – it will kickstart a critical supply chain and create a valuable industry.
The foundations of this industry will be its workforce. Each of the four phases above relies heavily on the people who design, build and operate these purpose-built power plants. Long-term investments in training certified nuclear professionals is the “last mile” of this supply chain. It will provide stable and well-paying careers and unlock SMR’s role in bringing clean energy to our future.
