Overview
Calian Nuclear Experience
Incorporated in 1982, Calian is a Canadian controlled public corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGY) under the Federal Laws of the Canada Business Corporation Act. Headquartered in the National Capital Region (NCR), with over 3,400 employees, Calian operates out of nine facilities across Canada and internationally. Calian is a leading program delivery partner for both public and private sector customers, with a diverse range of service offerings, including:
- Advanced Technologies
- Learning
- IT and Cyber Solutions
- Health Services
Within the Advanced Technologies segment, Calian Nuclear operates as a centre of excellence for the development of technological safety and risk-based solutions. With professionals who are recognized as experts in their respective fields, Calian Nuclear provides its clients with a wide range of nuclear safety services.
Calian Nuclear offers a full-cycle approach to safety critical domains, as demonstrated by its involvement in research and development, nuclear safety analysis, regulatory compliance and licensing, operations, environmental protection, emergency planning and preparedness, and training and exercises. This approach has resulted in full participation in hundreds of projects serving the nuclear industry and at all levels of government, both in Canada and internationally.
Continued Excellence in the Canadian SMR Space
Calian Nuclear is committed to upholding the principals of Team Canada and will continue to support the successful development of SMR designs at Canadian facilities to demonstrate SMR technical feasibility and proof of concept. It is Calian’s position that SMRs have the potential to be a disruptive technology to the energy sector as well as a crucial step towards meeting Canadian and global greenhouse gas reduction targets committed to in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. As a recognized authority on sustainable nuclear technology, there is also the potential for Canada to be a global leader in the export of SMRs to countries facing greater emissions challenges and clean energy challenges than Canada faces. Continuing with SMR concept development has exciting potential for domestic application and for Canadian export development. All of this must be done in a safe and sustainable way. Calian Nuclear endorses the Statement of Principles for Canadian leadership in SMR deployment.
Calian believes that rigorous testing and design reviews must be conducted in order to demonstrate that SMR designs can be deployed to Canadian and international markets in a safe, environmentally conscious, cost effective, and scalable manner. Calian Nuclear is actively engaged in supporting the development of proof-of-concept reactors within Canada in the areas of nuclear safety, environmental assessments, emergency preparedness and response, and regulatory compliance. Calian Nuclear aims to promote public, Indigenous, and community engagement by leveraging our extensive experience with Emergency Management (EM) to facilitate effective dialog and conversations on the priorities, issues, and concerns with new SMR projects.
Our EM experience has allowed us to develop strong working relationships with stakeholders in municipal, provincial, federal, commercial, and NGO domains, giving us a highly detailed understanding of the interconnectedness of nuclear power generation. Nuclear accident exercises and their planning initiatives quickly and effectively identify environmental and safety concerns of the local public as well as assess the effectiveness of the emergency response program. By continuing to facilitate effective discussion surrounding nuclear projects, Calian aims to engage local stakeholders as new SMR projects progress. Calian will also continue to foster a facts-based and science-based understanding of SMRs for Canadians through our own corporate channels and blog series (available at Calian.com). The aim of the blog series is to provide a factual and credible perspective to the general public and to highlight the benefits of SMR technology, while addressing the misconceptions and challenges faced by SMRs and nuclear power as a whole.
Calian Nuclear has experience in building international partnerships and is eager to build on our previous success. We have partnered with international experts to facilitate knowledge transfer in relation to nuclear technologies used in other countries. This is an important step since SMR designs employ a variety of technologies typically not used in Canada including different fuel types and safety systems than what is seen in the CANada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor design.
ACTIONS
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Environmental, Safety Analysis, and Regulatory Compliance Support
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CLN01
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 26, 38, 44, 45
ACTION
Calian Nuclear will continue to provide innovative solutions and support to SMR vendors and site owners with a focus on Environmental Assessments (EA), Emergency Preparedness (EP), Safety Analysis, and regulatory compliance.
Calian Nuclear has significant experience producing high quality technical reports in the areas of Environmental Assessments (EA), Emergency Preparedness (EP), Safety Analysis Reporting (SAR), and regulatory compliance for every nuclear power generating station in Canada. We have a deep understanding of processes and best practices for nuclear safety. The Calian Nuclear Quality Management System (QMS) is compliant to ISO 9001:2015, CSA N286- 12, CSA N286.7-16 and CSA N299.1.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Successful application and safe operation of first-of-a-kind SMR technologies and demonstration projects in Canada.
- Develop best practices for SMRs to help standardize approaches for this new technology.
- Captured opportunities for the Canadian nuclear and research sectors.
DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT
Calian Research and Innovation Initiative
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CLN02
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 38
ACTION
Calian is committed to advancing the development of novel technologies and fostering innovation within Canada. It is Calian’s position that SMRs are a likely to be an emerging sector for future innovation and the development of novel ideas.
Calian’s focus on innovation has led to the development of tools such as Calian ResponseReady™, a state-of-the-art online platform that supports professionals and organizations in developing, delivering and evaluating highly realistic emergency exercises. Supporting innovations such as these is an integral part of Calian’s business and is captured in the Calian core purpose “To help the world communicate, innovate, lead healthy lives and stay safe”.
Calian is willing to continue investing in new technologies and innovative ideas by leveraging its Research and Innovation Initiative to fund further advancement of SMRs in Canada. Concepts and ideas are assessed by the Calian Innovation Gate Process, which helps manage the full life cycle of innovation from concept development, to market and continuous improvement.
Calian is the in the process of implementing our internal Innovation Council. The Council will be responsible for approving new product and innovation concepts presented by our partners and delivery leaders to give our customers improved solutions to their challenges. This Council will approve the funding for these concepts.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Calian will contribute to and support the development of new innovative technologies such as SMRs and related systems.
- Calian will continue to iterate our training and exercise solution to provide the nuclear industry with a high degree of fidelity and traceability for emergency response exercises.
- Calian will stand-up the Innovation Council to manage our innovation programs as a dedicated function to bring new solutions to the market and grow our export potential.
POLICY, LEGISLATION, AND REGULATION
Engagement with Government, Nuclear Regulator, and Other Stakeholders
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CLN03
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 06, 44
ACTION
Calian Nuclear will promote SMR development in Canada by continuing to provide support and expertise to policy makers and regulators, particularly in the area of nuclear liability. Calian Nuclear experts have testified at the House Standing Committee on Public Safety on the need for science-based risk modelling. This issue is directly linked to the discussion on SMRs, as risk-modelling will be a central input in picking future sites for SMRs to mitigate environmental and disaster risk to the infrastructure.
Calian Nuclear will seek to be actively involved in discussing SMR Action Plan progress and strategic priorities for the future. Calian is available for engagement on advice, scoping, forecasting on any issue pertaining to nuclear power generation and SMRs. Calian will continue to contribute to the perspective of the nuclear power generating industry through our membership in OCNI.
Calian will continue to contribute to the Indigenous Suppliers Resource Network (ISRN) through our relationships with Bruce Power. Calian is also deeply engaged with Indigenous Works, a nationally-based organization that seeks to better engage Indigenous business and civil society with non-Indigenous business.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Updates and clarifications are made to Canadian legislation and nuclear regulations to better account for new SMR technologies.
- As recommended by the SMR Roadmap, appropriate classes and liability amounts for different SMR categories are made in the regulations under the Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act.
- Contribute to the perspective of the nuclear industry association, and remain engaged with other national leaders.
- Understand the perspectives of Indigenous Canadians and groups, and the potential for SMRs to provide power for rural and remote communities.
- A clear path forward is established and maintained so as to be well understood by Action Plan participants and partners.
CAPACITY, ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
Promote Diversity in the SMR Workforce
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CLN04
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 39
ACTION
Calian Nuclear has long strived to foster an inclusive work environment and is proud of the diversity represented in our team. The Calian Nuclear team is currently comprised of 47% women and consists of members from a variety of backgrounds, demographics, and perspectives.
Calian will continue to promote workforce diversity in the new SMR sector by participating in “Equal by 30” under the Clean Energy Ministerial, and other initiatives to promote a diverse, representative and inclusive workforce.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- The future workforce of the SMR sector is diverse, inclusive, and representative of various demographics, views, and backgrounds.
- Continue to champion the diversity of our workforce as an example to the nuclear services industry, and showcase our commitment to sustaining inclusiveness in our workplace. Calian has effectively achieved the goal of ‘Equal by 30’ already, and we will encourage others to follow that example.
CAPACITY, ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
Calian SMR Blog Series
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CLN05
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 50
ACTION
Calian will continue to share and promote its SMR blog series and other educational material through our corporate channels to encourage public learning on the benefits and challenges to achieving an SMR powered future.
Calian Nuclear’s SMR blog series is intended to provide a credible Canadian perspective on SMR technologies for consumption by the public. The blog series can be found on Calian.com where it addresses a variety of topics including:
- Small Modular Reactors: Addressing 3 key obstacles to commercialization.
- Small Modular Reactors: Perceptions and Misconceptions Threaten a Nuclear Renaissance.
- Small, Modular Reactors (SMRs): Potential Game-Changer for Cost Benefit Conversation on Energy Intensive Projects
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Unlocking emerging SMR possibilities and new energy paradigms.
Calian will seek to provide testimony from our experts to public venues to share our insights with policy makers, thought leaders, and elected officials. The public must be assured of the safety of nuclear power, and this message should also be heard by decision makers and those shaping discussions about the future of SMRs.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Improved public understanding and interest in SMR technologies and their potential for achieving the Canadian and worldwide targets for clean energy generation and reduced emissions.
- Present our expert opinion to the public through venues like think tanks, round tables, Standing House of Commons Committees and Senate Committees to provide legislators and thought leaders with a detailed understanding of the issue.
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND MARKETS
International Partnerships and Expertise
STATUS: IN PROGRESS
CLN06
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 15
ACTION
Calian Nuclear has partnered with international experts to facilitate knowledge transfer in relation to nuclear technologies used in other countries. This is an important step since SMR designs employ a variety of technologies typically not used in Canada including different fuel types and safety systems than what is seen in the CANada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor design.
Calian will continue to partner with international experts and organizations to augment and improve Canadian capabilities concerning nuclear technologies not traditionally employed in Canada.
Calian Nuclear will also seek to participate in select international conferences with the goal of promoting Canadian innovation, nuclear expertise, and services.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- The resources available to the Canadian nuclear sector are broadened to address gaps in Canadian expertise with respect to technologies used in SMR designs and demonstrations.
- Potential for international partnerships to offer Canadian services internationally.
- Global exposure and publicity of Canadian capabilities in the SMR, nuclear, and emergency preparedness sectors.
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND MARKETS
Canadian Export Engagement
STATUS: UPCOMING
CLN07
Responds to SMR Roadmap recommendation(s): 34
ACTION
Engage with Export Development Canada (EDC) and/or the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) to identify potential for export growth and facilitation assistance to build Canada’s market potential abroad.
EXPECTED RESULTS
A more detailed understanding of the global market potential for SMRs, and the role Calian can play in helping Canada build its export potential for SMR.