CHALK RIVER, Ontario, September 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s leading nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has launched a call for proposals for the third round of its Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) program. The CNRI program, launched in 2019, was launched by CNL to accelerate the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Reactors (AR), including next-generation grid-connected reactors and fusion technologies. The submission deadline for this submission round is December 22, 2021, projects will be selected in spring 2022.
CNRI enables attendees to optimize resources, share technical knowledge, and gain access to CNL’s expertise and unique facilities to advance the commercialization of SMR and AR technologies in Canada. Due to the continued success of CNRI, CNL also plans to expand the initiative in 2022 with the launch of a CNRI “Health Stream” that would invite organizations to submit research proposals related to health sciences, radiation biology and medical isotopic technologies, including targeted alpha therapy.
“It has become clear here in Canada and around the world that nuclear energy must play an important role in the fight against climate change in order to preserve the health and well-being of our environment,” commented Dr. Jeff Griffin, CNL’s vice president of science and technology. “To do this, we need to get the next generation of nuclear reactors online quickly, which is an extensive process that requires extensive research into the feasibility and safety of new SMR and AR designs. The CNRI program was designed to expedite this process, and the continued interest in the program has shown how much it is being adopted by the international provider community. “
For the third inclusion, research proposals must target topics that include advanced fuels, advanced materials and chemistry, reactor safety, and component development and testing. As in previous rounds, upon completion of a technical review of each proposal, CNL will work with the applicant to develop a plan to determine the scope, budget and results for the project. CNL carries out a final evaluation of the proposed project plans before making the final selection and approval of successful applicants.
Since the CNRI program launched in 2019, CNL has received applications from many of the world’s leading SMR providers and has participated in collaborative research projects with companies including General Fusion, Terrestrial Energy, Kairos Power, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, and Moltex. These projects have covered priority areas that include market analysis, fuel development and inventory management, reactor safety and tritium management, among others. They have also allowed CNL to expand its capabilities to a number of promising new areas, including developing tritium extraction technologies to advance fusion reactor designs and successfully producing advanced fuels for the first time in Canada.
“The early success of the CNRI program was so exciting that it not only gives SMR providers access to CNL’s unique resources to further develop their reactor designs, but also encourages us to expand our own capabilities,” commented Lou Riccoboni, Vice President for Business development of CNL. “This means that we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in research related to modern reactors and fuels, which enables us to better serve the needs of our customers and the broader nuclear industry. This is also one of the many reasons why we want to expand the program to include health sciences. “
In addition to the CNRI program, CNL is working to demonstrate the commercial viability of SMRs and ARs and position itself as the world’s leading provider of prototype testing and technology development support. As part of the program, in 2018 CNL invited SMR developers to build and operate an SMR demonstration reactor at a site managed by CNL. There are currently four advocates at different stages of the process. CNL is also advancing the establishment of a demonstration clean energy innovation research park that will allow SMR and AR developers to demonstrate applications and integration methods for their technologies.
To learn more about CNL and its SMR program, please visit www.cnl.ca/smr. For more information on the CNRI program, including how to apply, please visit www.cnl.ca/cnri.
About CNL
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a global leader in nuclear science and technology, providing unique capabilities and solutions to a wide variety of industries. We are actively involved in industry-driven research and development in the nuclear, transportation, clean technologies, energy, defense, security and life sciences sectors and provide solutions to keep these sectors internationally competitive.
With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories are well positioned for the future. A new standard of performance, reinforced with a strong safety culture, underlines every activity.
For more information on the full range of services offered by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact [email protected].
CNL contact:
Patrick Quinn
Director, corporate communications
1-866-886-2325
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f2f4605-748c-46ef-82b1-963e924b15e3
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