Canadian partnership to support heavy water industry

Monday, 12 May 2025

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is leveraging its expertise and experience to help Isowater Corporation develop and expand its heavy water refinement business, helping address growing international market demand for heavy water in both the nuclear and non-nuclear sectors.

CNL is considered to be a world leader in heavy water technology (Image: CNL)

A new strategic partnership will see Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) leverage Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL) extensive intellectual property related to the upgrading of heavy water to support Isowater - part of KEY DH Technologies Inc Group - in expanding and improving its deuterium refining capabilities. This will enable Isowater to better serve various non-nuclear deuterium markets through the provision of deuterium production and recycling services, and a higher-purity end-product, says CNL , and aligns with the organisation's holistic heavy water strategy.

CNL President and CEO Jack Craig  said the agreement comes amidst growing interest in the use of heavy water in non-nuclear industries, from electronics to health sciences. "By applying our expertise and technologies, built through more than 60 years of scientific research in hydrogen isotope management, we believe that CNL can help Isowater grow and improve its heavy water refining capabilities. We look forward to working with them under the terms of our new agreement," he said.

Andrew Stuart, chairman of KEY, said the partnership is the next phase of a relationship between Isowater, CNL and AECL that has developed over the past decade and has been an important enabler of the more than 10% compound annual growth rate in deuterium oxide use by the global high technology and life sciences industries. "CNL, Canada’s premier science and technology laboratory, offers world-class technology and expertise that support the path to global success of organisations like ours," he added.

Heavy water - a form of water in which the normal hydrogen is replaced by a heavier form of hydrogen called deuterium - is used as both the moderator and as the reactor coolant in pressurised heavy water reactors, such as Candus. Non-nuclear deuterium markets include manufacturing of semiconductors, OLED displays and fibre optics, as well as the life sciences and environmental science sectors.

As part of their strategic partnership, CNL will supply Isowater with isotope exchange catalyst technologies for its deuterium refinement process. It will also provide subject matter expert support for Isowater’s deuterium refineries.

Nuclear science and technology organisation CNL is contracted by federal Crown corporation AECL to manage and operate its sites and facilities, and to carry out AECL’s mandate to enable nuclear science and technology. Building on AECL's research, CNL can boast more than 60 years of expertise, experience and innovation in heavy water technology, a field in which it is considered to be a world leader.

“AECL is pleased to see the signing of this agreement, which makes use of our extensive intellectual property in heavy water production and refinement,” said AECL President and CEO Fred Dermarkar. "This agreement would not be possible without the innovative collaboration between the federal government and the private sector," he added.

Article researched and written by WNN's Claire Maden

Construction contract awarded for Darlington SMR

Friday, 9 May 2025

Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners has been awarded a construction contract for the execution phase of Ontario Power Generation's Darlington New Nuclear Project, which received provincial approval on Thursday.

Aecon's leadership and other project partners with Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines at the Darlington New Nuclear site on 8 May (Image: Aecon)

The project to build a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR - described as North America's first grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) - is being delivered under an Integrated Project Delivery model. Aecon, the lead in the general partnership with Kiewit Nuclear Canada, said its share of the contract is valued at approximately CAD1.3 billion (USD934 million).

Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners will work collaboratively with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and AtkinsRéalis during the execution phase, the company said. Its scope of work will include project management, construction planning and execution, with completion and commercial operation expected in 2030.

"OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project is a trailblazing undertaking – leading the way in delivering the next generation of nuclear plants across North America and internationally," Aecon Group President and CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx said.

Aecon is also the leading constructor for three nuclear refurbishment projects in Ontario at OPG's Darlington and Pickering sites and Bruce Power's Major Component Replacement programme.

The Darlington New Nuclear Project will be the first new nuclear build in Ontario in more than three decades. OPG received a Licence to Construct the first of four planned BWRX-300s at Darlington from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in April. Aecon's announcement was made on the same day the government of Ontario gave its approval for the start of construction for the CAD20.9 billion (USD15 billion) Darlington New Nuclear Project.

Site preparation works began in the autumn of 2022, and several long-lead items, including the reactor pressure vessel, have already been procured.

OPG's video of site preparations at Darlington

Article researched and written by WNN's Claire Maden