Small modular reactors have the potential to help big tech companies and the US meet their emissions goals while satisfying growing energy demand, but the country has yet to power up its first plant and the technology faces “substantial deployment challenges” with its cost and complexity, a study says.

However, the study from the University of Michigan shows that SMRs are economically viable and poised to start living up to their potential by 2050.

“While expensive and challenging, SMRs do have the potential to be deployed,” said Max Vanatta, lead author of the new study published in the journal Nature Energy.

“Even though they’re expensive, they can still be the lowest cost option,” Vanatta said.