A conventional nuclear plant is built on a huge scale. A single reactor can produce around 1,000 megawatts of electricity for a large grid. Microreactors take almost the opposite approach.
These systems are designed to be small enough for transport by truck, trailer or cargo aircraft. They can produce up to about 10 megawatts and, in some designs, carry enough fuel to operate for years without refuelling. The idea is to turn the reactor into a self-contained power source rather than another piece of permanent grid infrastructure.
