GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy said BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) has achieved a pre-licensing milestone in Canada with the completion of phases one and two of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission s Vendor Design Review process.
WINGHAM, ONT. It appears Ontario will be home to the next “big thing” in nuclear energy. “Imagine that this field is going to become a world class showcase for small modular reactor technology,” says Ontario’s Minister of Energy Greg Rickford. Plans to build Canada’s first small modular reactor or SMR at the Darlington Nuclear Site, in the Durham Region, as early as 2028 were announced last month. Proponents of small modular reactors say, although they’ll produce less electricity, they’re quicker and cheaper to build than typical “baseload” nuclear reactors. They’re also small enough to be mobile, and power remote towns or massive mining projects. In the pursuit of limiting carbon emissions, the Canadian government launched their Small Modular Reactor Action Plan last week.