On Wednesday, Canada’s Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the province’s largest power producer, released the results of a feasibility study it conducted with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and MIRARCO (Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation), the nonprofit research arm of the Canadian Laurentian University and describes a promising use case for very small modular nuclear reactors (vSMRs) to power mining operations in the far north of Canada.
The study concluded that the optimal use of the vSMR energy for heat and electricity accounts for 90 percent of the required base load power, with traditional diesel generation only being used for peak load times. At this optimal level, according to the study, CO2 emissions were reduced by 85 percent and could be further reduced by adding other renewable energies (reducing the proportion of diesel) at a slightly higher cost.
“Nuclear power and SMRs play an enormous and crucial role in the conference Canada Climate protection goals ”, said Robin Manley, Vice President for New Nuclear Development at OPG. “This study shows that a vSMR can not only drastically reduce emissions in an industry that is currently heavily reliant on diesel, it can also do so in a cost-effective manner.”
OPG notes that small modular reactors (SMRs) are more flexible than conventional nuclear reactors, making them better suited for use in a diverse power grid alongside intermittent technologies such as solar or wind power. They can also be used for applications such as process heat or hydrogen generation and enable further decarbonization of the industrial sector.
The study pointed to several advantages of vSMRs (which produce less than 10 MW of power as opposed to SMRs which produce up to 300 MW): notably their small size, which makes them easy to transport and install in remote areas, and scalable to meet changing requirements; short installation time due to modular construction and factory production; Security and reliability; and long operating times without having to keep a fuel supply on site.
Canadian milestone
Last month, Global First Power (GFP), a vSMR joint venture between OPG and Seattle-based nuclear energy developer USNC-Power, announced that it had received historic approval from Canada’s nuclear authorities, the formal technical approval process for owning , builds and operates Canada’s first vSMR, the Modular microreactor (MMR) at Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario. Global First Power aims to be operational by 2026.
“This study paves the way for the future of mining: not only does it show that vSMRs could be an inexpensive and reliable source of energy, but it also shows that vSMRs are a long-term solution that can help diversify and intensify a mining operation . also create a surplus that will benefit the communities in the region, ”said Francois Caron, Director of the Energy Center and Bruce Power Chair for Sustainable Energy Solutions, MIRARCO, Mining Innovation.
“Small modular reactors have great potential, not just in the mining sector, but also Canadato get closer to a low carbon future, ”said DR. Jeff Griffin, Vice President, Research and Development, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. “CNL is working to unlock this potential through the SMR invitation and location process combined with world-class research and development in the laboratories.”
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