Аннотация:This article examines the possible prospects for nuclear energy in achieving the sustainable development goals. Based on the analysis of the program and strategic documents of individual states, the current state is shown, recommended by the International Energy Agency and other international organizations as a direction for building cleaner and safer energy systems, for the production of small modular reactors in the world. Special attention is paid to the potential contribution of the latter to the economic, social and environmental development of the territories, as well as to the issues of legal regulation in relation to this type of installations.