Eye on the future:
Canada’s nuclear sector pursues innovation and new markets
Canada’s nuclear industry continues to pursue global opportunities to sell products and services based on its long-established technology expertise, while developing innovative nuclear technologies designed to open up new markets both domestically and internationally.
According to the Canadian Nuclear Association’s (CNA’s) Vision 2050, sometime in the 2020s, “Canada’s top-tier capacity in nuclear technology will align with a huge global opportunity to provide sustainable, clean-air energy. Few or no other countries will have this same opportunity.”
The Canadian nuclear sector believes it is well positioned to compete in the new world order of climate-change goals and expanding energy needs. Canada’s CANDU technology is well regarded internationally, and the industry is developing innovative fuels, reactor designs and applications.
A number of countries committed to carbon-emission reductions while increasing electricity supply for growing populations are building new nuclear reactors, in particular, India and China. Canadian companies have exported reactor technology to China and are pursuing more access to these large and expanding nuclear markets.
In March, the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) will lead a trade mission to China with 15 Canadian nuclear suppliers.
“China is the big opportunity,” says Ron Oberth, president and CEO of OCNI. “It has made a strong commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions and is investing heavily in nuclear facilities. The Chinese have 28 operating plants and 20 under construction, and their target is to have 150 nuclear plants operating by 2030.
“The big prize in China is the possibility of constructing Advanced Fuel CANDU Reactors, led by SNC-Lavalin in partnership with Chinese state-owned enterprises,” Oberth says. “If these projects are realized, a lot of the work would flow to Canadian companies that manufacture nuclear components.”
Additional CANDU reactor projects are looking promising in Romania and Argentina, he adds.
The Canadian industry is also developing the next generation of “small nuclear” technology. Small modular reactors (SMRs) will be designed to be built economically in factory-like conditions and installed on sites where large plants are not feasible. Applications could include supplying electricity to small and remote communities, as well as hydrogen for transportation and energy storage, desalination of seawater and heat processing for industrial uses.
According to the CNA, the global market for SMRs could reach $400 billion to $600 billion. With a number of countries investing in such technology, the CNA urges Canada to take steps to establish an early leadership position in this future export market.
The potential benefits of SMRs for the Canadian market are also considerable. However, the development of SMR designs is in the early stages, so the feasibility and economics remain somewhat uncertain.
“Just about every northern community in Canada that is not on the grid uses diesel generation,” says Steve Aplin of emissionTrak, a data strategy consultancy.
“We’ve been talking about climate change for 25 years, and those communities still use diesel, which is expensive – it often has to be flown in – and has high carbon emissions. Wind and solar cannot provide electricity and heat in these locations. This means small nuclear reactors are really the only alternative for communities that want zero-carbon energy. Part of the challenge will be to foster acceptance of this fact in the local populations.”
“With SMRs, construction costs and risks are reduced, another feature that makes them attractive,” says Marc Brouillette, principal consultant with Strategic Policy Economics. “But fully developed commercial units are still over a decade down the road”
“It is a natural extension for Canada’s manufacturing sector, given our nuclear capabilities, to be part of supplying that technology revolution,” Brouillette adds. “There is a role for government as policy decisions can influence creation of an export opportunity for Canadian manufacturers.”
Wind and solar cannot provide electricity and heat in [northern communities in Canada not on the grid]. This means small nuclear reactors are really the only alternative for communities that want zero-carbon energy.” Steve Aplin, emissionTrak