Lubershain: The nuclear industry cannot sustain a Cambrian explosion of reactor designs
Andy Lubershane · Five big questions about the future of energy · Oct 23, 2025 · at 23:12
Andy Lubershain of Energy Impact Partners discusses whether the nuclear renaissance will see dozens of Gen-IV/SMR reactor designs or consolidate around a few winners.
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“There just can't be a Cambrian explosion of new reactors. The, Industrial logic of the nuclear industry just doesn't lend itself to that. I think best case scenario, it's bad for the industry if you end up with, you know, four or five competing reactor designs that are relevant in any given region, because really what you need for nuclear to come down the cost curve is you need economies of scale throughout the supply chain, and you need to really come down the learning curve when it comes to deployment.”
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