Solar already runs circles around nuclear when it comes to cost. Typically combined with batteries. The combination is popular and cost effective.

With nuclear it's all rosy and optimistic. But also almost 100% hypothetical. And the industry has a piss poor record delivering on its promises. 200-300% cost overruns are routine.

We won't see more than a handful small small nuclear reactors for years to come. We might get to hundreds by the 2040s or so. Maybe growing to thousands or even tens of thousands by the 2050s under the optimistic scenario.

Most of these things have the power output of a handful of wind turbines, of which we have close to half a million right now around the world with more coming online all the time. The challenge here is that wind turbines are just stupidly cheap and scalable at this point and still getting better.

SMRs will remain very niche for a long time even if they do get their cost levels under control. Which is a big if. Thousands of these things would barely move the needle in terms of power output. Essentially all of the expected growth in electricity demand for the next few decades is going to be met by wind and solar supported by batteries.