Canada Reluctant to Abandon Its Domestic Nuclear Program: Bruce Power Back in the Spotlight

Bruce Power, operator of the largest nuclear power plant in Canada, signed a cooperation agreement with Energy Alberta. The aim of this partnership is to share experiences, regulatory frameworks and lessons learned to help the western province of Alberta in planning its first nuclear facility

Although Alberta currently has no nuclear capacity, the plans are ambitious: a proposed power plant in the Peace River region in the north of the province, which could use Canadian advanced and modernized CANDU reactors or Westinghouse's AP1000 technology.

Bruce Power is not only an operator, but a pioneer currently carrying out the first new nuclear project in Canada in the last several decades (Bruce C). Their experience is invaluable for Alberta in several key areas:

• Governance models: Bruce Power operates successfully through a public-private partnership.
• Regulatory pathways: Bruce Power can provide assistance in navigating the complex federal and provincial approvals.
• Community engagement: Bruce Power already explored options in Alberta 15 years ago, which gives them deep insight into relations with local and Indigenous communities.

Alberta and Saskatchewan are rapidly turning to nuclear energy to ensure energy security by 2050. As a reminder, Bruce Power signed a similar agreement last week with the province of Saskatchewan, positioning itself as the main “knowledge exporter” within Canada. “At a time when energy security and economic resilience are connected more than ever, collaboration within the Canadian nuclear sector is critical,” said Scott Henuset, Executive Director of Energy Alberta.

And just a few days ago we wrote about this topic, so let us remind you: in Canada itself there has already been a heated debate about future energy and nuclear power plants, and part of the public wonders why proven, tested and domestic technology, with which there is vast experience, and which is more than competitive, is now changing.

The Canadian reactor, CANDU, is technologically radically different from reactors that are currently predominantly in use – light-water reactors. Canada, indeed, is one of the very few countries that has developed a completely domestic reactor design that is technologically radically different from other reactor technologies that have been predominantly adopted around the world. Namely, although today light-water reactors (usually those with pressurized water) are considered the most accessible and practical technology, Canada from the very beginning of its nuclear program developed its own technological approach: it developed reactors that are moderated by heavy water, which is an extremely potent moderator. Canadian CANDU (CANada – Deuterium – Uranium) therefore have an excellent neutron economy, so as fuel they can use natural, unenriched uranium, and they also have the ability to replace fuel without shutting down the reactor (online refueling), which makes them commercially very competitive.

Recent Bruce Power developments indicate that Canada has not abandoned its domestic nuclear program (which, as a reminder, produced a very competitive design) – something we certainly welcome.