SMRs: Bruce Power to lead SMR group as Canada builds case

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Bruce Power to lead SMR work group as Canada builds business case

[ https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.c ... gnId=18237 ]

Mar 21, 2018

Nuclear operator Bruce Power is to co-chair a regulatory readiness working group and expand its knowledge of small modular reactor (SMR) technology as part of the Canadian government's new SMR roadmap, Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power, told Nuclear Energy Insider.

Bruce Power is examining new build opportunities to supplement its 6.4 GW nuclear plant in Ontario. (Image credit: Bruce Power)

Last month, the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources (NRCan) launched a national study into the potential for on-grid and off-grid applications for small modular reactor (SMR) technology in Canada. Stakeholder engagement will inform a roadmap for SMR development which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2018.

The initial phase will involve a consultation of utilities, regional governments and public groups to better understand the priorities and challenges of the deployment of SMRs in Canada. Participation in the roadmap will then be expanded to other stakeholders including manufacturers, research groups, waste management organizations and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

Bruce Power, Canada's largest private nuclear power generator, will co-chair a regulatory readiness working group which will help define the business cases for SMR deployment, Rencheck told Nuclear Energy Insider in an interview.

"As part of the industry's roadmap we will look at the value proposition for different types of SMR technology categories, then we will form that case," he said.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has designated SMR technology as a research priority and aims to build a demonstration SMR plant by 2026. [ https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.c ... supply-gap ] A recent Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) by CNL yielded 19 proposals for a prototype or demonstration reactor at a CNL site and a further three developers propose to move straight to commercial deployment in Canada. To date, 10 developers have applied to use the CNSC's pre-licensing vendor design review process, which allows developers to engage with the regulator at an early stage on new design concepts.

Bruce Power operates eight Canada deuterium uranium (Candu) reactors for a total capacity of 6.4 GW at its site in Tiverton, north-west of Toronto. In December 2015, the company signed a new long-term nuclear Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) at a price of CA$65.73/MWh ($50.3/MWh). The offtake contract allowed the company to announce a CA$13 billion 15-year refurbishment program, including digitization projects, to extend the lifespans of six reactors by 30 to 35 years. [ https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.c ... n-projects ]

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