How National Nuclear Energy Plans Frame Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Evidence from Natural Language Processing of Global Policy Documents

<p><span>Conventional nuclear power plants face persistent challenges related to safety perception, siting, and water use near urban areas. In this context, small modular reactors (SMRs)—characterized by smaller scale, modular construction, and enhanced passive safety—are increasingly discussed as an alternative. This study examines how SMRs are framed in national energy policy discourse. Using natural language processing techniques, we analyze approximately 800,000 words of SMR-relevant policy text drawn from 66 national and international energy plans across eight countries. The results show that policy discussions are dominated by references to reactor design, regulation, and safety, while broader techno-socioeconomic roles receive limited attention. Themes related to urban–rural equity, energy portfolio diversification, cogeneration, and climate resilience appear only weakly and rarely shape the dominant narrative. These findings suggest that SMRs are largely positioned as technological solutions rather than as components of wider urban energy transitions. Expanding national policy discourse to engage more directly with social, spatial, and governance dimensions would be necessary to assess the broader contributions of SMRs to future urban energy needs.</span></p>