Canadian Nuclear Association welcomes the Canadian SMR Roadmap

OTTAWA (November 7, 2018) – The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) welcomes the release of “A Call to Action: A Canadian Roadmap for Small Modular Reactors,” the result of a pan-Canadian, multi-stakeholder study launched in early 2018.

The Roadmap outlines the potential applications for SMRs in Canada, which include providing clean and reliable electricity and heat to smaller and/or remote communities such as in Canada’s north; clean process heat and electricity for resource industries such as Ontario’s Ring of Fire mining and Alberta’s oil sands; and clean electricity to existing power grids, particularly those needing clean energy to replace fossil fuels (e.g. coal) for their base-load electricity generation.

“The Roadmap lays the groundwork for Canada to lead in the development of innovative low-carbon nuclear technologies of the future,” said CNA President and CEO Dr. John Barrett. “SMRs are a powerful way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adverse environmental impacts from energy production, while providing much-needed reliable sources of clean energy to small communities, to utilities and electricity grid-operators; and to the natural resources sector generally.”

“SMRs are an exciting innovation story in the nuclear and natural resources sector. But more than that, they can help bring Canada and other countries closer and faster to their GHG reduction targets”, Barrett added. “The Canadian nuclear industry looks forward to working with federal and provincial governments to get these innovative power sources to market, both in Canada and abroad.”

CNA set the stage for the Roadmap in 2017 by releasing CNA’s “Vision 2050: Canada’s Nuclear Advantage”, which described how Canada’s nuclear industry sees its role in leading SMR manufacture and deployment in Canada.

The Roadmap released today takes this vision further. Through technical workshops, initial dialogues with Indigenous communities and organizations, and expert analysis by five working groups, it addresses key questions and requirements on the road to SMR deployment. Participating in the work were over 180 individuals representing 55 organizations. These included representatives from federal departments and agencies; provincial and territorial governments; laboratories and academia; labour unions; Indigenous representatives; supply chain and industry; and the full range of potential end-users, including utilities, heavy industry and communities.

“CNA looks forward to moving ahead on three recommendations involving the CNA”, Dr. Barrett said. These recommendations include the co-creation of a Nuclear Energy Advisory Council with the Government of Canada; increased outreach to other clean energy industries to ensure appropriate representation of nuclear energy in broader clean energy dialogues; and continued support for Canadian industry representation and influence on the international stage.

Background: The preparation of the Roadmap was guided by the SMR Roadmap Steering Committee, made up of representatives from Alberta Innovates, Bruce Power, the New Brunswick Department of Energy and Resource Development, New Brunswick Power, the Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Ontario Power Generation, Qulliq Energy Corporation, and SaskPower.

About the CNA:

Since 1960, the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) has been the national voice of the Canadian nuclear industry. Working alongside our members and all communities of interest, the CNA promotes the industry nationally and internationally, works with governments on policies affecting the sector and works to increase awareness and understanding of the value nuclear technology brings to the environment, economy and the daily life of Canadians.

For more information:

Erin Polka
Director of Communications
(613) 237-4262 x 110
polkae@cna.ca