Is Canada betting big on small nuclear reactors? Here’s what you need to know
Source: Jimmy Thomson · THE NARWHAL · | January 4, 2021
Small modular reactors are variously described as a clean energy solution, a waste of time and a new danger. So, what’s the deal?
Source: The Narwhal
The federal government could be preparing to bet big on small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs. There have been rumblings about the technology for years, but the SMR Action Plan, due to be released this month, is expected to lay out Ottawa’s role in advancing the technology.
The governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick have already thrown their support behind SMRs, signing a memorandum of understanding this summer.
“This safe, emerging technology has the potential to provide needed power to remote communities, to lower emissions and further to diversify Alberta’s energy sector,” Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in an August speech announcing the agreement.
There is a real need for new electrical and energy technologies in remote communities. Diesel fuel is the current standard for off-the-grid communities and mines, causing air pollution, service disruptions and environmental liability. But whether small modular nuclear reactors are up to the task of replacing diesel is another question.
Here, we break down the details and through the spin surrounding modular nuclear reactors.
Wait, how does nuclear power work again?
Sure, just give me a second and I’ll explain *checks notes* nuclear physics.
In a nutshell, the splitting of radioactive atoms like uranium into smaller elements releases heat. That heat is either converted to electrical energy, usually through turning water into steam to drive a turbine.
The key benefit is that nuclear energy doesn’t rely on burning fuel like oil, gas or coal. That means no carbon emissions from generating electricity, which is why it’s often classified as a “green” energy source.
But that green label is often called into question: nuclear waste remains highly radioactive and dangerous for much longer than a human lifespan.