Canada has been a world leader in nuclear energy for over 60 years. The nuclear industry in Canada is a vital source of innovation, job creation and low-carbon energy. The next generation in nuclear technology will help Canadians build a cleaner, safer world while meeting our energy needs in a lowcarbon economy.
Parliamentary Secretary Kim Rudd, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, today announced a road mapping process under the Energy Innovation Program to explore the potential for on- and off-grid applications for small modular reactor (SMR) technology in Canada.
Driven by interested provincial and territorial governments and energy utilities, the exercise will be delivered by the Canadian Nuclear Association and engage stakeholders to better understand their views on priorities and challenges related to the possible development and deployment of SMRs in Canada.
Participation in the roadmap will eventually expand to include all essential enabling partners, including manufacturers, research performers, waste management organizations and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
The stakeholder-driven roadmap will build upon their existing groundwork to foster innovation and establish a long-term vision for the industry, as well as to assess the characteristics of different SMR technologies and how they align with user-requirements and Canadian priorities. The roadmap will be an important step in positioning Canada to advance next-generation technologies and become a global leader in the emerging SMR market.
Through Generation Energy, we heard that Canadians want a pan-Canadian approach on nuclear energy that would help guide important decisions on emerging technologies, such as SMRs. Canada is committed to clean energy, innovation and energy security as it continues to move toward a lowcarbon economy.
It is expected the roadmap will be completed in the fall of 2018.