The United States Navy, in conjunction with the Department of Energy (DOE), operates a vast fleet of nuclear-powered vessels, demonstrating a remarkable safety record spanning over 70 years. A recent tweet from "ib" highlighted this extensive experience, stating, "The US Navy and DOE have 20 year olds operate ~70 extremely safe snd space-efficient nuclear power plants, building new ones ~ every two years, each of which could power 150k homes, and 10M in total. Energy poverty is entirely a choice." This assertion underscores the potential of nuclear technology for broader energy solutions.
The U.S. Navy's nuclear propulsion program, initiated in the 1950s, has accumulated over 5,400 reactor-years of accident-free operation, powering more than 80 ships, primarily submarines and aircraft carriers. While the tweet mentions "around 70" plants, sources indicate the Navy operates well over 100 small nuclear reactors across its fleet, making it one of the largest nuclear organizations globally with an unparalleled safety track record. These naval reactors are essentially a long-standing example of small modular reactors (SMRs).
While naval reactors are primarily designed for propulsion and shipboard power, the tweet's claim of each reactor powering "150k homes" points to the significant energy density of nuclear power. For civilian applications, modern SMR designs, such as the NuScale Power module, are engineered specifically for electricity generation. A single NuScale module generates 77 MWe, and a standard 6-module NuScale plant can produce 462 MWe, capable of powering over 300,000 homes. This translates to approximately 50,000 homes per 77 MWE module, suggesting the tweet's figure for naval reactors might refer to a potential thermal output equivalent rather than direct electrical output for a civilian grid.
The success and safety of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, a joint effort between the Navy and the DOE, provide a strong foundation for the development and deployment of civilian SMRs. The DOE is actively supporting the acceleration of SMR deployment, recognizing their benefits such as lower upfront capital costs, shorter construction times, and flexible siting. These advanced reactors are seen as a key component in providing reliable, carbon-free power and addressing energy needs in diverse settings, including smaller electric grids and industrial applications like hydrogen production and water desalination.
The "energy poverty is entirely a choice" sentiment expressed in the tweet resonates with the ongoing efforts to leverage nuclear technology, particularly SMRs, to expand access to clean and consistent energy worldwide. The U.S. Navy's decades of experience with compact, safe, and powerful nuclear units offer valuable insights and a proven operational model for the future of global energy supply.