How will ports power the next generation of logistics? Dr. Paul Kent’s latest edition of his For the Beauty of Logistics series, “Ports Going Nuclear? A TCO and Risk-Based Assessment of SMRs and Microreactors”, explores small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors, and the real tools port authorities (can) use to make that decision.
Many ports are racing toward deep decarbonization, electrification, and energy resilience. But as energy demand rises, and grid reliability becomes more uncertain, the question of how ports will power their operations is moving from the margins to the mainstream.
Dr. Kent explores whether emerging nuclear technologies might play a realistic role in supporting port and industrial zone operations, especially in light of the World Bank’s recent policy shift to finance nuclear power. This is not an advocacy piece. Instead, the article walks through the actual analytical processes port authorities (can) use for assessing the merits of infrastructure investment, including:
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
- Risk and resilience analysis
- Emissions-reduction potential
- Regulatory and stakeholder considerations
- Financing models and feasibility pathways
The narrative follows “Maria,” a fictional port planning executive who must navigate electrification, industrial development, and long-term energy strategy. Her efforts illustrate how ports can evaluate SMRs and microreactors using the same structured, multidisciplinary lens applied to any major capital investment.
Click here to read the full article.