Overview
Bruce Power - Power through Innovation:
Our Vision for Small Modular Reactors
Bruce Power is Canada’s first private nuclear generator, and provides 30 per cent of Ontario’s power at 30 percent less than the average cost to produce residential power. We produce low-cost, emissions-free electricity, while also driving the economy through significant infrastructure investments and a commitment to the protection of our environment. Our life-extension program which will enable our site to operate safely to 2064 is also recapitalizing the Ontario nuclear supply chain with 95% of the entire program spending occurring in Ontario, helping to support more than 22,000 jobs across the province and generating over $4 billion in economic activity annually.
Bruce Power also continues to play a role contributing to Canada’s action plan on climate change. The Bruce Power site produces 6,400 megawatts of clean, reliable and flexible baseload supply which annually helps to avoid 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to taking about six million cars off the road each year and almost equivalent to the air pollution released by coal plants in 2001.
At Bruce Power, innovation is at the heart of everything we do, which is why we have been an active partner with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Federal Government for many years as Canada looks for opportunities to use nuclear power to decarbonize its economy and achieve its climate change objectives.
As an experienced nuclear operator with extensive knowledge of Canada’s nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Bruce Power understands what it takes to successfully manage nuclear projects safely and efficiently, while simultaneously pursuing innovation to ensure Canada’s nuclear sector is well positioned to lead the way when it comes to new technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMR’s).
For many years, Bruce Power has showcased its ability to not only be a thought leader when it comes to opportunities to achieve real climate change results , but has also demonstrated its ability and commitment to further establish Canada’s prowess as a Tier 1 nuclear nation.
In April of 2018, Bruce Power signed an MOU with MIRARCO Mining Innovation and Laurentian University that was designed to enhance strategic research opportunities, including the long-term potential for SMRs to generate clean, low-cost and reliable electricity in rural/remote regions. The cooperation agreement was an early and important step for Bruce Power and its partners to work together to tackle the challenges of climate change, while also developing a resource base which was used to later provide valuable insight into NRCan’s SMR roadmap.
More recently Bruce Power signed an MOU with McMaster University to work together on advancing innovative nuclear technologies and medical isotopes. The collaboration will see experts work together to advance energy science – supporting Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement projects through a program of experimental work made possible by McMaster’s unique nuclear research facilities – and technologies related to Small Modular Reactors.
Both of these initiatives not only demonstrate part of the value proposition Bruce Power brings to the SMR discussion, but have inherently helped to shape our vision of SMR’s and the next steps for the Canadian Industry.
In 2019, Bruce Power was also the driving force in helping to establish the Nuclear Innovation Institute, Canada’s first and only nuclear sector focused agency specifically created to accelerate the pace of innovation in the Canadian nuclear industry, embrace new thinking, new technologies and new business opportunities that can help drive the shift to a low-carbon future.
Most importantly, Bruce Power’s Life Extension Program is already a well-established, multi-year infrastructure project that will extend the life of the Bruce Power nuclear facility to 2064. Our leadership on Canada’s largest green infrastructure project has helped to reinvigorate Canada’s nuclear supply chain and has positioned them to be active partners in the development and deployment of new technologies. While our main focus remains on the safe, on-time and on budget delivery of these multi-year, multi-faceted infrastructure projects, they also undeniably further demonstrate the leadership and capability of Bruce Power to explore the viability of new technologies and their possible demonstration and deployment in the future.
Additionally, through Bruce Power’s many years as a nuclear operator we have established the relationships both within and outside Canada’s nuclear industry that have ideally positioned us to help drive Canada forward as it enters into the exploration and viability of SMR technology. Our relationships with critical labour union partners, including but not limited to, Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), the Power Workers Union, the Society of Energy Professionals and others, provides us the partnerships and knowledge for the labour, and specialized experts that would ultimately be required in an SMR deployment future.
Our collaboration agreements with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) which focus on our respective refurbishment programs, and on the feasibility, viability, technology selection, and development pathways for SMR’s, helped lay the foundation to establish the MOU between the Provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.
As a result of the MOU, Bruce Power has been collaborating with SaskPower, OPG and NB to develop three streams of SMR projects.
Through Stream 1, Bruce Power is utilizing its nuclear expertise in collaboration with OPG and Sask Power to help determine the feasibility of a grid-scale connected SMR technology as well as determine the optimal technology option for Canada. With a fully licensed nuclear operating site, Bruce Power is an invaluable strategic asset to guiding this process forward. The nuclear expertise and excellence brought to the table by Bruce Power, paired with the collaboration of our many partners (OGP, Sask Power, McMaster University, labour unions) help to further solidify our leadership position in this process.
New Brunswick Power is taking the lead on Stream 2, advance Generation IV reactors. As part of the nuclear industry’s Pan-Canadian approach to SMR development, Bruce Power will be working with Canada’s other nuclear utilities to provide support and expertise. As outlined in the MOU signed by the three provinces, Bruce Power’s support and collaboration with New Brunswick will help in advancing on-grid SMRs being used in the province as well their export opportunities for Canada.
Stream 3 is focused on a new class of micro (or very small) SMRs designed primarily to replace the use of diesel for remote communities and mines. Looking to advance nuclear power further and its opportunities in remote communities, Bruce Power and its partners have been exploring opportunities for deployment of micro-SMR’s. Of particular mention, our MOU signed with MIRARCO Mining Innovation have positioned us first movers in this space.
Our work together has led to micro reactors being explored by Bruce Power and our partners. The opportunity for deployment of this technology could ultimately help provide small remote communities in the north and mining operation a viable path to transition away from diesel generators.
As we look to the next steps in SMR development and deployment, Bruce Power will continue to demonstrate its leadership and leverage its nuclear expertise and extensive work with the CNSC, labour organizations and research and innovation capabilities to the utmost of its abilities.
Put simply when it comes to nuclear power, innovation, and exploring new technologies Bruce Power is and will continue to be a thought leader. We are one of the few companies that can combine expert capabilities in many areas of nuclear energy with world-leading regulation and governance.
We are one of an even more select few that have been able to build cross-sectorial consensus on a path forward. Bruce Powers’ vision is supported by its industrial partners. We look forward to continued engagement on SMR’s and the opportunity to lead Canada through this new energy transition.
The rest of this chapter will discuss the actions taken to specifically address four recommendations and further demonstrate Bruce Power’s vision of Canada’s SMR future.
ACTIONS
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
SMR demonstration projects
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
BR01
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 40
ACTION
Bruce Power is working with other utility partners to determine which technologies are most suitable for a demonstration project.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Bruce Power expects to work with its utility partners to move demonstration projects forward once suitable technologies are determined.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Strategic partnerships and business models
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
BR02
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 41
ACTION
Interested utilities should advance strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and consortia, as appropriate, to develop demonstration project proposals for different applications in Canada and on the export market.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Bruce Power has been working with its utility partners to advance SMR development. This co-operative approach could be the basis for future strategic partnerships. These potential strategic partnerships could be developed to include SMR vendors, supply chain members and possible end users.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Fleet deployment pathways
STATUS: UPCOMING
BR03
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 42
ACTION
The Memorandum of Understanding signed Dec 1, 2019 between the Premiers of Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Ontario has led to creation of a feasibility report on SMR deployment across Canada, and a strategic plan is under development.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The feasibility report being developed out of the MOU signed by the provinces will provide a path forward and address the issues raised in Recommendation 42.
CAPACITY, ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
Indigenous engagement
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
BR04
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 42
ACTION
Bruce Power places great importance on our relationship with First Nations. Bruce Power is an active member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and our company places a particular emphasis on a pro-active community and economic partnership including our Indigenous Relations Supplier Network.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Bruce Power works closely with local Indigenous communities, on whose Traditional lands our site is located. The company has Protocol Agreements and values a strong working relationship with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Historic Saugeen Métis and the Métis Nation of Ontario.
Bruce Power and its supplier partners have also created an Indigenous Relations Supplier Network (IRSN) as they look to further strengthen their relationships with local Indigenous communities. Many of these suppliers would be integral to the SMR development supply chain. The IRSN, which has been under development since June 2017, is focused on a coordinated and collaborative approach to community investment, training, education and employment.
This will be a key vehicle to ensure that Indigenous communities have the opportunity to actively participate in the company’s ongoing investment program in the area of employment, business partnerships and procurement. Through the IRSN, Bruce Power and other members of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries, can collaborate on projects enabled through work on site to help grow Indigenous business communities, create long-term jobs, and identify areas to focus on for collective social investment.
Bruce Power is also an active member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and was awarded a Gold level certification in its Progressive Aboriginal Relations program. We also work closely with our suppliers and contractors, encouraging them to become active members of the CCAB.
The SON and Bruce Power have entered into a collaboration agreement to jointly market new isotopes in support of the global fight against cancer while also working together on creating new economic opportunities within the SON territory by establishing new isotope infrastructure.
Bruce Power and SON will engage on marketing and collaboration while working with government to leverage this opportunity and create sustainable economic benefits. This is a historic partnership between Bruce Power and the SON that will see us join forces in the fight against cancer worldwide as we work to develop new isotopes, starting with Lutetium-177.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Promoting diversity
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
BR05
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 39
ACTION
Bruce Power is also a signatory of the Equal by 30 Campaign, which is a public commitment by public and private sector organizations to work towards equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women in the clean energy sector by 2030.
As a signatory to this campaign Bruce Power supports and is taking actions to fulfill the principles and purpose of the campaign.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Bruce Power expects continual and clearly demonstrated progress towards achieving our Equal by 30 targets in all aspects of our business including SMRs.