We may someday see very small modular reactors powering the mines of Northern Ontario.
It’s not beyond belief, following completion of a feasibility study recently completed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), and the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO).
In an effort to do away with diesel at mining operations, the study found that the most economical energy mix was for vSMRs to provide 90 per cent of the baseload power required for mining operations and associated uses- with only peak demand periods managed through use of diesel generators.
It’s a suggested solution that would reduce harmful emissions by 85 per cent.
Adding other renewables to the mix would further bring that figure down.
vSMRs, producing less than 10 megawatts of power, are prefabricated for ease of installation and provide long operating life.
Global First Power, a joint venture between OPG and USNC-Power, is the most advanced vSMR project in Canada and recently received Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) approval to begin a technical review.
If the federal government commits funding, a demonstration vSMR could commence operation at CNL’s Chalk River campus.
