Canada's Small Modular Reactor

Read the SMR Progress Update

Read the SMR Progress Update

Read the latest progress update from October 2022 (PDF 1.1 MB)

Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Action Plan lays out our strategic framework to a comprehensive pan-Canadian approach that provides us with a critical tool to support Canada’s ability to become a global leader in SMR deployment. On April 12, 2022, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada hosted the inaugural SMR Action Plan Leadership Table in Ottawa to respond to a recommendation made in Canada’s 2020 SMR Action Plan. The SMR Leadership Table convened multidisciplinary representatives from the federal government, interested provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities, utilities, industry, and non-governmental organizations. The meeting was a notable success with diverse participants engaging in a meaningful discussion on how to advance SMR technology.

What is an SMR?

What is an SMR?

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a new class of nuclear reactors that are considerably smaller in size and power output than conventional nuclear power reactors, with enhanced safety features.

SMRs are:

Small:

in both power output and physical size;

Modular:

meaning they are factory constructed, portable and scalable;

Reactors:

using nuclear fission to produce energy for electricity, hybrid energy systems, district heating, water desalination, and high quality steam for heavy industry applications.

This technology has the potential for a range of applications. From grid-scale units that can provide non-emitting reliable electricity, to smaller units suitable for heavy industry, and powering remote communities. Several provinces are actively pursuing SMRs, and Canada's first SMR could be in operation as early as the mid-to-late 2020s.

Watch the video

Watch the video

About the Action Plan

Canada's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Action Plan is Canada's plan for the development, demonstration and deployment of SMRs for multiple applications at home and abroad.

SMRs are a promising new technology that could unlock a range of benefits: economic, geopolitical, social, and environmental. Canada’s SMR Action Plan brings together essential enabling partners, leveraging their strengths to lock-in these benefits and lead the world on SMRs.

The Action Plan is the result of a pan-Canadian effort bringing together key enablers from across Canada, which we call “Team Canada” – the federal government, provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples and communities, power utilities, industry, innovators, laboratories, academia, and civil society.

Each of these key enablers has contributed a chapter to the Action Plan, describing a concrete set of actions they are taking to seize the SMR opportunity for Canada. Collectively, these chapters demonstrate the breadth of engagement on SMRs across the country and outline the depth of progress and ongoing efforts.

The Action Plan builds on the momentum of Canada's SMR Roadmap, which convened Team Canada to chart a vision for this emerging area of nuclear innovation. The Roadmap marked the beginning of Canada's plan to lead the world in this game changing technology. Read the Small Modular Reactor Roadmap report (PDF, 7.7MB).

THE VISION

Small Modular Reactors as a source of safe, clean, affordable energy,
opening opportunities for a resilient, low carbon future
and capturing benefits for Canada and Canadians.

Message
from
the Minister

 

Statement
of
Principles

 

Chapters by
Participating
Organizations

119
 
 

Full List
of
Actions Tracked

520