November 28, 2024

Creating a Clean Energy Future: Small Modular Reactors

When you think about nuclear power, “small” doesn’t typically come to mind. Nuclear power facilities typically have 1,000-1,500 megawatts (MW) capacity, 40-60 years (or more!) operational lifespans, and employ hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The decarbonization benefits are equally impressive – during operation, a nuclear generation facility produces no greenhouse gas emissions; over the course of its life cycle, nuclear produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per unit of electricity as wind, and one-third of the emissions per unit of electricity when compared with solar. This positions nuclear power as an important part of the energy transition.

There is now a greater opportunity for nuclear power to be part of the future energy mix to support a reliable, affordable and decarbonized electricity system with the emergence of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

What are Small Modular Reactors?

SMRs are the next evolution of nuclear technology that are lower cost and require a smaller geographic footprint than traditional large nuclear facilities. They are factory-assembled and scalable — usually in the range of 10 to 300 megawatts (MW) — and can be built to suit a wide variety of applications. SMRs are based on the same science as larger reactors, using fission to create heat, which is then used to safely generate electricity.

As small as an SMR’s physical footprint is, its greenhouse gas footprint is even smaller; as with traditional nuclear power facilities, SMRs do not emit greenhouse gases during operation. The waste generated is also small relative to the energy generated and can be safely managed and stored long-term.

Why SMRs are important for our clean energy future

There is a growing need in Alberta and globally for low-emitting, baseload and dispatchable generation to meet load growth, support reliability and the integration of renewable energy, and achieve decarbonization goals​. SMR technology is safe, responsible, and cost-competitive with other sources of power generation. When added to the future energy mix, SMRs could offer a balanced solution and be a critical part of ensuring reliability through the clean-energy transition.

Today, SMRs are seen as having significant potential in Canada, and Capital Power is proud to be pioneering a feasibility study of this technology in Alberta.

Learn more about our balanced approach to the energy expansion as we deliver reliable and affordable power, build clean power systems, and create balanced solutions for our energy future.