Foster reported in early Agust 2025 that he tried to imagine a compact nuclear plant quietly supplying both electricity and drinking water to a mid-sized city. That’s exactly what NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR) can do. During a recent visit to their manufacturing facility in Oregon, I watched engineers calibrate reactor modules no larger than shipping containers.
A NuScale US-built nuclear reactor could power 400,000 homes—and make green hydrogen
According to NuScale Power, a single module paired with reverse osmosis can yield about 150 million gallons of fresh water per day—enough for 2.3 million residents—and twelve modules can deliver carbon-free power to around 400,000 homes¹. The International Atomic Energy Agency has praised this kind of nuclear–renewable cogeneration as a breakthrough for decarbonized energy and water supply².
Utilising brine for green hydrogen production
One persistent challenge in desalination is handling the salty brine byproduct. NuScale, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has developed a hydrothermal chemical decomposition process that converts brine into feedstock for hydrogen production—bypassing energy-intensive electrolysis and reducing both water use and production costs.
Advanced simulation capabilities for future applications
Before field deployment, NuScale uses an Integrated Energy System simulator—built with GSE Solutions and FuelCell Energy—to model everything from reactor heat output to hydrogen logistics. This digital twin can test configurations capable of producing over 200 metric tonnes of hydrogen per day, ensuring real-world sites meet both performance and stringent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety standards.
Positioned for global impact
NuScale’s SMR design is the first and only to earn U.S. NRC approval, paving the way for international markets seeking sustainable energy solutions. Beyond electricity and desalination, potential uses include district heating in cold climates, reliable backup power for data hubs, and large-scale hydrogen hubs driving transport decarbonization. The IMF notes that the IEA and IRENA expect hydrogen to supply 12–13 percent of global energy demand by 2050³. As NuScale prepares its first commercial plant in Idaho, the world will watch to see if these compact reactors can truly reshape our energy and water landscapes—turning ambitions for clean power and hydrogen into reality.
Footnotes:
NuScale Power Corporation. “NuScale Advances Clean Water and Hydrogen Production with Breakthrough Research.” https://www.nuscalepower.com/press-releases/2025/nuscale-advances-clean-water-and-hydrogen-production-with-breakthrough-research
International Atomic Energy Agency. “Nuclear–renewable hybrid energy systems for decarbonized energy production and cogeneration.” https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/TE-1885web.pdf
Van der Graaf, Thijs. “Hydrogen’s decade.” Finance & Development, IMF, December 2022. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2022/12/hydrogen-decade-van-de-graaf
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