Anna Erickson

Professor Georgia Institute of Technology

Wednesday 11th March 2026

Accelerating SMR Adoption as a Scalable, Carbon-Free Power Solution

10:50 am

Tackling common misconceptions about SMRs, and exploring how SMRs fit into broader decarbonization strategies, including their potential and limitations compared to other energy sources
Exploring timelines, regional expansion plans, and the regulatory and policy shifts needed to speed adoption
Evaluating operational realities and what the first year of an SMR coming online looks like – scenarios, challenges, and lessons from countries that have already deployed or piloted SMRs and adapting them to the U.S. context
Exploring contracts, financing structures, and collaborations between hyperscalers, utilities, and SMR providers to bring projects to market