Future Of Nuclear Power Generation

SMRs which is, to say the least, a very hot topic these days in the energy industry in the efforts to get more carbon-free generation.

I strongly believe in nuclear energy as a baseload to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals. SMRs give us a great opportunity to re-invigorate nuclear generation.

Based on my understanding of various SMRs, three or four technologies have sufficiently matured in design and licensing. Canada has already picked up a micropower reactor for remote applications, three grid-size candidates for further evaluation, and two other promising technologies for longer-term development.

Conversely, SMRs—like all new nuclear—certainly have their detractors. There are three major criticisms of the new nuclear:

• Used Fuel Management (UFM)
• Regulation
• Cost competitiveness

UFM must be addressed as a part of the successful new nuclear package. SMR developers should collaborate with the public authorities to address long-term used fuel storage during the design process.
Regulatory regimes must accommodate alternative licensing approaches efficiently. It’s a learning curve for first-of-a-kind and first-in-a-while products but worth the effort to establish SMR growth. The majority of SMRs are extremely safe by design. Work is needed to establish the degree of the projected safety margins, including reliability and integrity management programs.