CANADIAN NUKE NEWZ

MoU sees KAERI, Alberta cooperation on SMRs

20 April 2023

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Alberta to collaborate on the deployment of small modular reactor (SMR) technology - including the Korean-designed SMART reactor - in the Canadian province.

KAERI President Joo Han-Gyu signing the MoU with Alberta (Image: KAERI)

The MoU was signed on 19 April by KAERI President Joo Han-Gyu, Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development Brian Jean and Alberta Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism Rajan Sawhney.

KAERI said that since Alberta took an "ambitious initiative" to deploy SMR technology along with other Canadian provinces, KAERI and Alberta have discussed clean energy cooperation based on KAERI's SMR technology, particularly the SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor).

"This mutual cooperation agreement was promoted to discuss the issue of applying SMART technology with almost no carbon emissions to supply necessary steam to oil sands (tar sands) mining areas in Alberta," KAERI said. "Based on this agreement, the two sides plan to share in advance the information necessary to confirm the feasibility of SMART construction and further obtain licences.

"Korean companies, including Hyundai Engineering, have already been promoting projects that utilise SMART technologies for Alberta oil sand mining. This mutual cooperation agreement is expected to promote the activities of these companies."

The signing of the MoU followed a visit by the Canadian ministers on 28 February to KAERI to discuss ways of supplying high-temperature and high-pressure steam for oil sand mining through the use of the SMART reactor. They also visited KAERI's research facilities, including the SMART-ITL and SMART-MCR simulators.

Commenting on the MoU, Joo said: "It is time to translate the net-zero emission commitment into actions, and SMR technology is crucial in carbon reduction actions. A deployment of SMART in Alberta will be the pioneer in the battle against climate change."

Jean added: "Alberta is a global leader in providing safe, clean and reliable energy that helps power the world. The Government of Alberta is open to exploring all technologies, including SMRs, to help energy production thrive in a low-carbon future. Through this agreement with KAERI, we are continuing to explore deploying SMR technology and strengthening Alberta's position as a world-leading responsible energy producer for years to come."

"I am proud of the agreement we are making as a result of our trade mission to Korea, and am excited about the potential for SMR technologies, such as KAERI," Sawhney said. "This is yet another example of continued global interest in Alberta and the diverse opportunities that Alberta offers."

SMART is a 330 MWt pressurised water reactor with integral steam generators and advanced safety features. The unit is designed for electricity generation (up to 100 MWe) as well as thermal applications, such as seawater desalination, with a 60-year design life and three-year refuelling cycle.

While the basic design is complete, development had been stalled by the absence of any orders for an initial reference unit. Developed by KAERI, SMART received standard design approval from the Korean regulator in mid-2012. KAERI had planned to build a demonstration plant to operate from 2017.

Alberta has been considered in the past as a possible location for large-scale nuclear power plants, but a 1000 MWe electricity generation plant proposed for the north of the province was shelved in 2011. The province's interest in SMRs is centred on their potential as an economically attractive and carbon-free source of steam and process heat to support extractive industries including the production of natural gas from the province's extensive oil sands deposits.

Alberta is one of four Canadian provinces - the others are New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan - that have agreed to a joint strategic plan outlining their strong support for the path forward on SMRs.

Invest Alberta - a Crown corporation of the Government of Alberta - last month signed an MoU with ARC Clean Technology Canada Inc to jointly pursue activities to support commercialisation of ARC's ARC-100 SMR technology in the province. That followed the signing of an MoU in January with X-Energy Canada to develop economic opportunities supporting the potential deployment of the Xe-100 SMR. It has also supported SMR developer Terrestrial Energy in its efforts to expand its operations into Alberta.

Terrestrial SMR completes Canadian pre-licensing review

19 April 2023

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has completed Phase 2 of the vendor design review (VDR) of Terrestrial Energy's Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR). The regulator said that no fundamental barriers to licensing the small modular reactor design were identified during the review.

An IMSR400 plant (Image: Terrestrial Energy)

The VDR is an optional service provided by the CNSC to provide an assessment of a nuclear power plant design based on a vendor's reactor technology. It is not a required part of the licensing process for a new nuclear power plant but aims to verify the acceptability of a design with respect to Canadian nuclear regulatory requirements and expectations, providing early feedback during the design process.

In February 2016, a service agreement was signed between the CNSC and Terrestrial for the conduct of a Phase 1 VDR of the IMSR. During this phase, CNSC staff assessed how the vendor's design processes demonstrate intent to meet CNSC requirements. The Phase 1 review of the ISMR was completed in November 2017.

The CNSC entered into an agreement with Terrestrial in May 2018 to conduct the second phase of the VDR of the reactor design. Phase 2 of the review focuses on identifying whether there are any potential fundamental barriers to licensing.

The VDR involved a comprehensive review of the IMSR design covering 19 'focus areas' defined by the CNSC and required Terrestrial's preparation of hundreds of technical submissions. Its scope included a systematic review of Terrestrial's engineering management processes, confirmatory testing programme for IMSR components and systems, reactor controls and safety systems, defence-in-depth strategy, safety analysis, and the requirements for safeguards, security, fire protection and radiation protection.

CNSC staff have now concluded that there are no fundamental barriers to licensing the IMSR plant.

"The IMSR design requires further advancement in some areas for CNSC staff to confirm that it meets all Canadian regulatory expectations. Terrestrial will be required to perform additional work to address the technical clarifications and findings raised in this review, should it or another proponent pursue a licence for the design," the CNSC noted.

"The VDR is a comprehensive pre-licensing regulatory review, and its completion is a breakthrough for Terrestrial Energy," said Terrestrial CEO Simon Irish. "Its scope and conclusion provide commercial confidence to proceed to licensing and construction of IMSR plants.

"It is the first technology review completed by a major regulator of a nuclear plant design that uses a Generation IV reactor technology to supply heat at high temperature, and the first time for molten salt reactor technology," he noted.

"This review is a major step to bring molten salt technology to commercial markets and IMSR plants to large industrial companies seeking practicable high-impact solutions to decarbonise industrial production."

Terrestrial's IMSR is a 4th generation reactor that uses molten salt as both fuel and coolant, with integrated components, which can supply heat directly to industrial facilities or use it to generate electrical power. The use of molten salt as both fuel and coolant also enables passive, or inherent, safety features to be built into the reactor design. The design integrates the primary reactor components, including the graphite moderator, into a sealed and replaceable reactor core unit with an operating lifetime of seven years. Terrestrial's IMSR400 configuration, with twin reactors and generators, will mean an overall power plant design with a potential output of up to 390 MWe.

New Brunswick, Saskatchewan enhance collaboration on SMRs

18 April 2023

The governments of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on the development of small modular reactor (SMR) technologies in both Canadian provinces.

ARC's vision of an ACR-100 plant, which has been selected for deployment at Point Lepreau, New Brunswick (Image: ARC)

This new agreement builds on a previous MoU signed in December 2019 that committed to New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan working together to advance SMRs in Canada. Alberta joined in April 2021. Through this work, participating provinces released a joint strategic plan in March 2022 outlining the path forward on the development of SMRs.

The new MoU provides the ability for the two provinces and their utility Crowns - SaskPower and New Brunswick Power - to formally share experiences, knowledge and successes on deployment plans, supply chain development, Indigenous relations, labour market development, regulations and other areas.

"Saskatchewan and New Brunswick have established a strong working relationship on SMR development over the years," said Don Morgan, minister of Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan. "This renewed partnership will bring mutual benefit to both provinces by capturing opportunities stemming from the work on nuclear energy development across Canada and internationally. Together, we can accelerate the progress of decarbonising power grids and industrial facilities using SMR technologies."

In June 2022, SaskPower announced the selection of the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 as the preferred SMR technology for initial grid-scale deployment in Saskatchewan - the same model Ontario Power Generation selected in December 2021 for its Darlington New Nuclear Project.

"New Brunswick has expertise to share from four decades of reliable nuclear operations," said Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland. "We are committed to playing a leadership role nationally and globally on clean and renewable energy. Nuclear energy is a key resource in the transition to a low-carbon future and our two provinces are well positioned to lead this evolution."

SMR technologies are also recognised in New Brunswick's Climate Change Action Plan as an important part of achieving net-zero electricity emissions by 2035.

ARC Clean Technology Canada Inc's ARC-100 is a 100 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor based on proven technology developed at the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II reactor, which operated successfully at the US government's Argonne National Laboratory for 30 years. It has been selected for deployment in New Brunswick, with a fully operational unit at the Point Lepreau nuclear site by 2029. The Belledune Port Authority is also considering using an ARC-100 for the provision of energy for hydrogen production and other industries as part of a future expansion at the port in northern New Brunswick.

New North American nuclear training programme launched

19 April 2023

Westinghouse Electric Company, Spanish engineering firm Tecnatom and US consulting and training services provider Accelerant Solutions have agreed to form the Nuclear Excellence Academy (NEXA), a nuclear training programme for utilities in the USA and Canada.

(Left to right): Billy Mack of Accelerant Solutions, Pamela Cowan of Westinghouse, and Francisco Sanchez of Tecnatom after the signing of the Teaming Agreement (Image: Westinghouse)

The three companies have signed a Teaming Agreement to launch NEXA, which they say will "leverage the companies' unmatched knowledge of industry standards and digital technology innovations to provide in-person, digital and on-demand training for nuclear personnel at American and Canadian utilities. The programme ensures practical, cost-effective, and compliant approaches to nuclear operations".

The partners said the programme "unites the industry expertise of Westinghouse and Accelerant Solutions with Tecnatom's world-class digital products and services to offer the current and future nuclear fleet a comprehensive and efficient solution for training needs".

Pamela Cowan, President of Global Engineered Systems and Solutions at Westinghouse, said: "This effort demonstrates Westinghouse's commitment to provide innovative solutions to our customers. NEXA uses a digital platform to optimise the learning process, enhancing competencies, worker engagement, and performance excellence for the long-term".

"NEXA offers a solution to utilities seeking to retain and hire nuclear professionals who have the highest qualifications," said Francisco Sanchez, Vice President of Safety, Operation and Training at Tecnatom. "The training will be standardised to fit the needs of all utilities."

"This agreement ensures that centralised nuclear training delivered through NEXA is innovative, cost-effective, and compliant," said Billy Mack, President of Accelerant Solutions, which says it has partnerships with all 28 American utilities that operate nuclear power plants.

Writing in a blog in February, Mack said: "NEXA brings together the right people with the right experience and the right technology to modernise and transform nuclear training. Through sound analysis, design, and development, NEXA finds the right place and balance for VR/AR, adaptive learning, gamification, AI, and SME mentorship in nuclear training".

Canadian education system

Last month, leaders from Canada's nuclear industry wrote to the country's ministers of education to highlight the need for more female engineering graduates.

"Among the rapid advances being made in the nuclear sector is the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) which harness nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy ... However, there are not enough university graduates or skilled tradespeople required for the construction, installation, operation and regulation of SMRs," the letter said.

It continued: "Ensuring that Canada has a diverse labour force with the right skillsets to succeed is fundamentally important to safety. Diverse voices bring a broader range of viewpoints and ideas to innovation, which results in a better safety outcome in the nuclear sector. Having a diverse nuclear workforce is to everyone's advantage - but we're falling far short, particularly with respect to gender equality."

The letter calls for the Canadian educational system to promote greater interest in STEM subjects overall, and "particularly among K-12 girls (the school grades prior to college), so that more of them go on to pursue studies and careers in STEM. Very specifically, we must encourage greater interest in the nuclear sector if we are to meet the 2050 net-zero goals that policy-makers have set for us."

It concludes: "For decades, Canada has been a leading industrialised economy and an innovator in nuclear technologies. But we will never reach our net-zero goals without a significant shift in our educational system. We have to do better to prepare our workforce of the future."

The signatories of the letter include: Rumina Velshi, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; Lori Clark, President and CEO of New Brunswick Power Corporation; Rachna Clavero, President and CEO of CANDU Owners Group; Fred Dermarkar, President and CEO of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd; Tim Gitzel, President and CEO of Cameco; Ken Hartwick, President and CEO of Ontario Power Generation; John MacQuarrie, President and CEO of BWX Technologies; Joe McBrearty, President and CEO of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories; Rupen Pandya, President and CEO of SaskPower; Michael Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power; Laurie Swami, President and CEO of Nuclear Waste Management Organization; and Jay Wileman, President and CEO of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.

Urenco, Cameco sign supply deals for Bulgaria's Kozloduy

21 April 2023

Urenco and Cameco are joining Westinghouse in the supply chain for one of the Kozloduy units in Bulgaria as the country diversifies its nuclear fuel supplies.

Kozloduy supplies about one-third of Bulgaria's electricity (Image: Kozloduy NPP)

The long-term agreement will see Urenco's enrichment facilities in Europe - which are in the UK, Netherlands and Germany - receive natural uranium (UF6) from Cameco and supply enriched uranium product for fabrication into nuclear fuel rods by Westinghouse.

Urenco CEO Boris Schucht said: "Urenco is ready to support countries seeking to increase their energy security and independence and I am pleased to welcome Kozloduy as our newest customer. We are fully equipped to provide Bulgaria with a reliable nuclear fuel supply - alongside our partner organisations. We are looking forward to a very trustful and long-term partnership."

Cameco said that the 10-year supply contract was for it to supply natural uranium hexafluoride to meet the full requirements of Kozloduy unit 5 through to 2033.

The switch of supply from Russian-produced fuel for the VVER-1000 Kozloduy unit 5 was confirmed in December when Westinghouse signed a 10-year contract to supply it with fuel. In a tweet following the new agreements, Westinghouse said: "We're excited to partner with Cameco for the next decade in supplying VVER-1000 fuel to Kozloduy Nuclear Plant."

The Russian war with Ukraine has led to a number of plants and countries in Europe seeking to switch from Russian-supplied fuel and Bulgaria's National Assembly voted in November for an acceleration of the diversification process.

At the end of last year, a separate agreement was signed with France's Framatome relating to the supply of nuclear fuel for the sixth unit at Kozloduy. The Bulgarian Ministry of Energy said at the time that having different nuclear fuel suppliers for the two units at Kozloduy was intended to meet European Union requirements to ensure security of supply.

The Kozloduy plant is in the northwest of Bulgaria on the Danube River and provides about 34% of the country's electricity. It features two Russian-designed VVER-1000 units currently in operation, which have both been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News