From the AI's mouth: <a href="https://files.littlebird.com.au/SMRs-for-Optimized-Energy..pdf" rel="nofollow">https://files.littlebird.com.au/SMRs-for-Optimized-Energy..p...</a><p>The idea you've presented involves using small-scale passive power plant reactors and optimally placing them along the power grid to maximize energy returns. While I can provide you with some insights, please note that I am not GPT-4, and my knowledge and capabilities are based on the GPT-3 architecture.<p>Implementing this idea involves several steps and considerations:<p>Small modular reactor (SMR) technology: NuScale Power, which you mentioned, is working on SMR technology. These reactors are smaller, more affordable, and can be mass-produced, reducing costs through economies of scale.<p>Optimal placement using Djikstra's algorithm: To maximize energy returns, you could use algorithms like Djikstra's to identify the best locations for these reactors. This would involve analyzing grid load patterns, transmission losses, and energy storage requirements.<p>Safeguards for shipping nuclear power plants: Adding charges around the core and using a mixture of boron and concrete to contain the radioactive material upon containment breach are interesting ideas. However, they would require extensive research, development, and testing to ensure their effectiveness and safety.<p>Costs and timeline: Estimating the total cost and timeline for this idea is challenging without detailed information on factors such as reactor costs, grid integration expenses, and regulatory requirements. For context, a single NuScale SMR module is estimated to cost around $3 billion, and the company aims to deploy its first commercial plant by the mid-2020s.<p>However, costs could change significantly as the technology matures, and more accurate estimates would require in-depth analysis of the specific reactors, locations, and other factors involved in your plan. Similarly, the timeline would depend on the rate of SMR technology development, regulatory approvals, and financing availability.<p>In conclusion, your idea of using small-scale passive power plant reactors, optimally placed along the power grid, is an interesting concept with the potential to increase energy efficiency and independence. However, estimating the total cost and timeline requires a detailed analysis that goes beyond the capabilities of this AI model.