Ontario Tech and George Brown College Develop Small-Scale Nuclear Reactor Concept for Remote Communities
Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, reports that it is working with George Brown College’s Brookfield Sustainability Institute in Toronto to develop a new small-scale nuclear reactor concept, called the Canadian Uranium Energy Bridge (CUEB). According to Ontario Tech, the project is led by Dr. Kirk Atkinson, Associate Professor and Associate Industrial Research Chair in the university’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
Ontario Tech University cites a 2023 Canada Energy Regulator market snapshot noting that nearly 200 remote Indigenous and northern communities in Canada are not connected to the North American electricity grid. The university reports that many of these communities rely on diesel and fossil fuels for heat and power. Ontario Tech, referencing 2021 data, states that 79 per cent of electricity in remote communities was generated using diesel and that up to $7 billion is spent each year flying diesel fuel into Northern Canada.
According to Ontario Tech, the CUEB nano reactor measures about 2.4 metres wide and weighs nine metric tonnes. The university says the reactor uses solid-state technology and natural Canadian uranium fuel, and is designed to produce hundreds of kilowatts of power. Ontario Tech states that the reactor is intended to be portable, able to be transported by forklift or crane, and is proposed to operate with zero emissions.
The university reports the CUEB is designed to be scalable and could be connected in multiples to increase energy output. Ontario Tech says the reactor is intended to last 25 years and can be refueled every five years, depending on the fuel used. The university notes that the CUEB is aimed at smaller communities and industries with comparatively low energy needs, and that the reactor’s size and planned cost could make it competitive with fossil fuel options. Ontario Tech adds that the system could be offered as a service, including installation, monitoring, and operational support by power providers.
Ontario Tech University states that further development of the CUEB requires additional research, new partners, advances in neutron generator technology, and streamlined regulatory processes connected to Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Action Plan. The university says it is seeking collaborations with other organizations to advance the project.