Small modular reactor developers are reaching new milestones in 2026 as the U.S. licensing pipeline expands and construction begins on the first advanced reactors. NuScale Power remains the only small modular reactor design with full Nuclear Regulatory Commission certification, having received design certification for its 50 megawatt module and a standard design approval for its uprated 77 megawatt version.
TerraPower has moved from design into construction. The company broke ground on its Natrium plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, the first advanced reactor of its kind in the United States, and secured an NRC construction permit for the project. Oklo broke ground at Idaho National Laboratory in September 2025, advancing its own microreactor design. TerraPower and Kairos Power are described as next in line with the most advanced engagement with federal regulators.
Demand from technology companies is accelerating deployment. Meta signed agreements for up to 6.6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity, including roughly 2.8 gigawatts from eight TerraPower Natrium plants and a 1.2 gigawatt power campus tied to Oklo in Ohio. Big technology firms have collectively committed to more than 10 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity, driven largely by electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data centers.
The progress marks a transition for an industry that has spent years in design and regulatory review. With construction permits issued and ground broken at multiple sites, the focus is shifting toward execution, supply chains, and the timelines for bringing the first commercial advanced reactors online.
Source: SMR Intel - https://smrintel.com/smr-nrc-approval-tracker/