SMRs: An answer to Canada’s role in tackling the climate crisis

Canada has set the ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. This target will require several solutions for replacing Canada’s reliance on fossil fuels with low-carbon energy.

SMRs offer significant advantages over traditional nuclear energy. Due to their smaller size and simpler modular designs, SMRs require far less upfront capital than traditional nuclear power plants and can be constructed at a much quicker pace. In Ontario, two SMR projects are currently underway to show their effectiveness and safety: one at the Chalk River Laboratories site in Renfrew County and one at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington site.

These projects will be instrumental in meeting stringent compliance standards for provincial and federal legislations and federal licensing under the Canadian Nuclear Safety and Control Act.

Ecometrix’s expertise as environmental specialists for the nuclear industry, along with our IMPACT software solution, can assist these types of SMR projects in obtaining the necessary licensing to move ahead.

IMPACT is the preferred tool used in Canada and internationally to derive radiation safety limits for CANDU nuclear reactors throughout the world. The information generated by IMPACT and the expertise of our team in interpreting that information are examples of how we apply our Environmental Intelligence™ and expertise to inform decision making before implementing solutions.

Ecometrix’s expertise can be used to identify potential areas of concern so that proponents can make informed decisions and improve designs early in the development phase to ensure environmental compliance through all phases of a project.

A nuclear power station

As the developer and proprietor of IMPACT, Ecometrix has a proven track record in a range of risk assessments (RA), environmental and impact assessments (EA/IA), and derived release limit calculations for a variety of industrial applications. For new and ongoing industrial activities, our skilled team of specialists can quickly create tailored model scenarios for your specific application as a function of evolving environmental conditions, criteria, and project design.

We have a proven track record with SMR clients as well as other nuclear clients. For example, Ecometrix is currently assisting a client with environmental assessments and approvals for two uranium mines in Saskatchewan. We’re using IMPACT to demonstrate protection of the environment, while helping our client understand what the information is telling them – helping them know when they should perform environmental monitoring in the future and helping them know if they require any site mitigation before the project is approved.

While SMRs certainly have a place in Canada’s search for low-carbon energy sources, much work still needs to be done to ensure Canadian energy providers embracing this technology obtain the necessary licensing from regulatory bodies to greenlight their projects. We are committed to helping them get equipped with the assessment tools and industry insights necessary for long-term success.

As leaders in Environmental Intelligence for the nuclear industry, Ecometrix’s team of experts will help these types of projects come to fruition and assist both our clients and Canada create a better future.

To learn more about Rina and her work as our Director and Environmental Risk Assessment Specialist, read her profile.