As global power demand continues to surge and decarbonization imperatives intensify, the nuclear sector is undergoing a rapid transformation, led in part by helium-dependent Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Compact, factory-built, and deployable almost anywhere, SMRs are reshaping how nations and industries think about nuclear power. According to multiple market studies, the global SMR market is projected to exceed US $22 billion by 2035, making it one of the fastest-growing segments in the nuclear sector.
The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) projects that up to 21 gigawatts of SMR capacity could be installed worldwide by 2035, positioning SMRs at the frontier of the modern nuclear build-out. Certain next-generation designs, particularly high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, use helium as their primary coolant. Inert, thermally efficient, and stable under extreme heat, helium is uniquely suited to transferring energy safely within these advanced systems, making its a critical component for gas-cooled SMR designs.
What makes SMRs particularly compelling is their scalability and cost efficiency. Unlike traditional gigawatt-scale nuclear plants, SMRs can be produced in series, transported by road or rail, and rapidly installed to serve industrial parks, communities, or data-center clusters. For the world’s largest tech firms, now among the largest consumers of electricity, SMRs offer a pathway to clean, continuous baseload power that renewables alone cannot provide. For industries seeking resilient off-grid energy supply, SMRs are fast becoming an area of significant strategic interest. This shift is being accelerated by partnerships such as the recent Westinghouse–Cameco–Brookfield–U.S. government initiative, valued at around US $80 billion, and by energy-hungry technology giants increasingly seeking to source power from next-generation nuclear systems, including SMRs.
As SMRs move toward large-scale deployment, helium demand is set to rise, with each gas-cooled reactor representing a long-term, stable supply requirement. At the same time, the rapid expansion of AI and semiconductor manufacturing is amplifying helium demand across both the power generation and high-tech sectors. The convergence of these forces, clean power from SMRs and computing from data-center infrastructure, signals a new era in which helium plays a vital role across both the energy and technology landscapes. This dynamic, first explored in Pulsar Helium’s The Helium Imperative: Fueling Converging Forces - AI, Energy Resilience and Decarbonisation, is now playing out in real time: AI expansion is fuelling unprecedented electricity demand, SMRs are emerging as a scalable, low-carbon solution, and helium sits at the intersection of these critical trends.
As the SMR era gathers pace, Pulsar’s high-grade assets and safe-jurisdiction positioning leave it uniquely placed to potentially help drive the next phase of nuclear innovation. For investors tracking the future of nuclear power, and the energy sector more broadly, recognizing helium’s evolving role in fast-developing next-generation technologies could prove highly rewarding.
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Disclaimer
This article contains information based on current market conditions and publicly available data. It does not constitute financial advice, and investors should conduct their own due diligence before making any investment decisions.
Marc Farrington PR & Partnerships marc@pulsarhelium.com #PLSRINSIGHTS Follow us on X