Small Modular Reactor - sources of potential safety advantages

If the new Encapsulated Nuclear Heat Source (ENHS) proves practical to implement, it might significantly improve the economics, safety, proliferation-resistance and public acceptability of nuclear reactors:

Safety: Via: (a) very small burnup and other possible reactivity swings; (b) relatively large negative coolant and void coefficients of reactivity; (c) large capacity heat sink; (d) very effective decay heat removal (via the large surface area of the reactor vessel inner wall); (e) eliminates the need for many active engineered safety features.

[Source: DOE Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) Project Abstract, "STAR: The Secure Transportable Autonomous Reactor System, Encapsulated Fission Heat-Source", November 22, 1999]