IAEA SMR Programme – Globalizing Small Modular Reactor Deployment

Speaker: Aline Des Cloizeaux (Director, Nuclear Power Division, IAEA)

From Strategy to Reality: The IAEA’s Global Role in SMR Deployment

The opening keynote of Track 2 at binding.energy 2025 came from the very top of international nuclear diplomacy.

Aline Des Cloizeaux, Director at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), shared the agency’s evolving mission: to make SMRs deployable worldwide through harmonized regulation, technical assistance, and collaborative tools like ARIS and NHSI.

“We don’t build reactors – but we help the world build them better,” she emphasized.

→ 🎥 Watch the full keynote now←

The IAEA SMR Supporting Programme – Purpose and Impact

The IAEA SMR Supporting Programme was launched to coordinate the massive international momentum around small modular reactors (SMRs):

80+ SMR designs tracked globally
Dozens of countries interested in adopting SMRs
Broad spectrum: electricity, heat, hydrogen, desalination

It offers a platform for:

Regulators to align on pre-licensing
Vendors to share technical data
Newcomer countries to access best practices
Global deployment strategies to be synchronized

Why SMRs? Technology Built for Modern Energy Needs

Small Modular Reactors are a response to energy market shifts:

Lower upfront capital
Smaller physical footprint
Enhanced safety
Modular, factory-built components
Suited for distributed grids & process heat

Key Advantages of SMRs

SMR Feature	Strategic Benefit
Modularity	Faster, parallel construction
Lower Power Output	Suitable for small grids and remote sites
Passive Safety	No active cooling or operator action needed
Non-electrical Applications	Hydrogen, heat, desalination, district heating

Infobox: What Is the NHSI?

NHSI – Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative

The IAEA’s NHSI aligns regulators and industry around shared frameworks for:

Multinational licensing pathways
Common design reviews
Safeguards-by-design
Security and emergency planning approaches

Harmonized regulation = faster deployment, less duplication, more trust.

ARIS Database – One Catalogue to Rule Them All

The Advanced Reactors Information System (ARIS) is the IAEA’s curated design catalogue, covering:

80+ SMR & advanced reactor designs
Standardized datasheets
Technical comparisons
Vendor-submitted updates

Empowering Newcomers and Women in Nuclear

Beyond technology, the IAEA supports capacity building:

The Milestones Approach for new nuclear countries
Fellowships and training for regulators & engineers
Over 820 applicants joined IAEA women-in-nuclear programmes in 2025
Special focus: Africa, ASEAN, and Middle East

Final Thoughts

Aline Des Cloizeaux reminded the audience:

“The IAEA doesn’t compete – we convene.”

The IAEA’s SMR strategy is not about one design, one vendor, or one country. It’s about building global trust, unified rules, and pathways for everyone. From ARIS to NHSI, the agency is quietly laying the groundwork for the next nuclear wave.

→ Reserve your seat at binding.energy ←