Is small-scale nuclear energy an option for the N.W.T.?

Source: Hannah Paulson· CBC · | November 17, 2020

An illustration of a small modular reactor, which some officials are looking at as a solution to power issues in the North. These types of reactors can produce anywhere from five to 300 MW and are designed to be small enough to transport by truck or shipping container. (NuScale Power)

For many off-grid communities in the Northwest Territories, diesel is the lifeline that heats homes and powers businesses. Major industries in the North, such as the mining sector, rely on diesel to generate income and fuel the economy.

But as both the federal government and the Northwest Territories look to transition away from fossil fuels, territorial leaders are exploring how small-scale nuclear energy could alleviate the North's dependency on diesel.

In October, the federal government announced it was investing $20 million into small modular nuclear energy reactors as part of its commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Small modular reactors — SMRs — are smaller than a conventional nuclear power plant and can be built in one location before being transported and assembled elsewhere.

The N.W.T. government has also shown interest in this form of energy and identified it as an emerging energy technology that it follows "closely," according to a written statement from the Department of Infrastructure.