There are designs that are new or newer that have only been implemented at small scale, or in a single test instance. Molten salt reactors, traveling wave desi

There are designs that are new or newer that have only been implemented at small scale, or in a single test instance. Molten salt reactors, traveling wave designs, even thorium energy amplifiers. You're right, though, we need new reactors now, which is why we're looking toward the designs already tested. It's true that no significant research has been done for decades and no new designs approved for commercial use, but that's something that can be changed, and changed quickly. In any case, we don't have a choice... it's renewables+nuclear or renewables+a cut in standard of living for the world... or else climate change we can't survive. Again... we're not substituting nuclear for renewables. That wouldn't work any more than substituting renewables for nuclear. Neither one is enough on its own.