CANADA: MARCHING TOWARD ENERGY DIVERSITY

 As populations grow, the energy needs are increasing too. There is a strong trend toward energy diversity. Canada and Sweden are an integral part of this significant change. **

By Atique Naqvi aka Syed Atique Hussain, Boston, United States

Nuclear in Canada is a six-billion-dollar industry

With 36 million people in Canada and 10 million in Sweden, both countries have been taking steps to diversify their rising energy needs. With new technologies and better safeguards, nuclear energy generation is considered as a safe and an efficient way to produce power.

According to the Washington D.C.-based Nuclear Energy Institute, Canada produced 95,650 Gigawatt hours (GwH) in 2016 through nuclear framework contributing 15.6% of the total energy produced in the country. On the other hand, Sweden generated 60,640 GwH in 2016, which was 40% of the total energy production, says the Institute.

Despite its challenges, the nuclear-powered electricity generation is on the rise across the world, especially with small-size reactors and the latest technologies in nuclear waste management.

CANADA – A well-regulated framework

Canada developed its first nuclear reactor in 1941 at Ottawa’s National Research Council.

The current number of nuclear power generating units in Canada stands at 19, and the country is actively pursuing a policy to expand its nuclear power reach.

Dr. John Barrett, President and the CEO of Canadian Nuclear Association is quite proud of Canada’s nuclear heritage. “Nuclear has a long and impressive history in Canada, and we should all be proud of the contributions that it has made and continues to make. In the fight against climate change, nuclear power has been a strategic asset, emitting zero greenhouse gases during generation.

“Indeed, one of the best things that we can do for our planet is to include nuclear as part of the low-carbon and clean technology mix.”

Nuclear in Canada is more than a $6-billion industry, and it directly and indirectly supports a total of 60,000 Canadian jobs, says 2017’s The Canadian Nuclear Factbook.

“Canada is a leader in the global supply of uranium. Most Canadian uranium is mined in northern Saskatchewan, which has the highest-grade deposits in the world.

Canada pioneered one of the first nuclear power reactors, the CANDU (Canada-deuterium uranium). There are currently 46 operable CANDU and CANDU–derived reactors worldwide,” says the Factbook.

Also, Canada’s nuclear industry is among the safest and most strictly regulated industries in the world, it says.

Canadian government’s latest document on domestic nuclear energy talks about the importance of the sector.

“Canada has been a world leader in nuclear energy since the development of Canada’s own CANDU reactor technology by Atomic Energy Canada Ltd in 1952.

“Nuclear energy is an important part of Canada’s current clean energy mix and will continue to play a key role in achieving Canada’s low carbon future.

“Nuclear energy is the second-largest source of non-emitting electricity in Canada. In 2015, it accounted for 15% of national electricity generation, 33% of electricity generated in New Brunswick, and almost 60% of Ontario’s electricity.

“Nuclear energy displaces more than 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year compared to the same amount of electricity produced from natural gas. To put that figure in context, the Government of Canada’s target under the Paris Agreement is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 219 million metric tons by 2030.

“With $26 billion being invested in the refurbishment of CANDU reactors in Ontario, nuclear energy will remain a primary source of clean and reliable energy in Canada for many decades to come,” says the latest government document on the sector.

Latest Government Support

In October 2017, the government of Canada responded positively to the recommendations on nuclear energy expansion of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources.

The government has recognized Canada’s nuclear advantage by accepting all of the committee’s recommendations.

Canada is aggressively promoting small reactors.

The government’s response to the committee’s recommendations outlines federal activities, program and engagement mechanism to foster innovation, increase coordination and support a strategic vision for the future of nuclear energy and nuclear science and technology in Canada.

The nuclear industry players are quite upbeat owing to government’s support. Dr. John Barrett of Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) says: “We are pleased that the government responds directly and positively supports a number of key areas flagged by the CNA as important to the immediate as well as longer-term future of the nuclear industry in Canada.”

The government agrees with the recommendation that Canada’s nuclear industry has a bright future and that an overall strategy could help guide future partnerships.

The government agrees that nuclear energy is “an important part of Canada’s clean energy and climate change initiatives, and beyond energy, the nuclear sector contributes to a wide range of other scientific and economic activities, such as medicine, human health, and safety, material testing, food safety, even space exploration.”

The government acknowledges a role for nuclear technologies and operations in the implementation of federal programs for technology development and industrial support that cover the full innovation spectrum.

Initiatives announced in Canada’s Budget 2017 on federal support for clean technologies “could support nuclear energy technologies at different points in the innovation spectrum recognizing that nuclear energy is an important component of Canada’s clean energy mix.”

The government will use its convening power to bring together a dialogue to develop a Canadian roadmap for Small Modular Reactors, starting with provinces, territories, and utilities.

The federal government agrees to the committee's recommendation that industry, along with academia and innovators, should establish a nuclear innovation council with representatives from the federal and provincial governments to leverage non-power applications (e.g., for health care, agriculture, manufacturing, etc.) of the nuclear sector for national benefit.

“The government’s positive response comes just as Canada’s energy community meets in Winnipeg for Generation Energy, a national dialogue on Canada’s path to a low-carbon future led by Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr,” says Dr. Barrett.  “Canada’s nuclear industry looks forward to working with the government at this important meeting on what’s next for nuclear.”

Nuclear power is absolutely critical to domestic and international efforts to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and address the threat of climate change while powering economies with reliable, affordable and always-available electricity assets, says a press statement from CNA.

Small Reactors for Remote Communities

Though 90% of the Canadians live within 150 kilometers of the country’s border with the United States, high rates of immigration beg for new residential and commercial areas.

The energy needs are expanding too, and small 4^th Generation Nuclear Reactor developed by LeadCold could play a major disruptive role in Canada’s widening energy needs.

In its Vision 2050, Canada has aggressively promoted small nuclear reactors.

For small modular reactors (SMRs), Canada is already recognized internationally as a particularly favorable market and for its transparent regulatory environment, says Vision 2050 document.

“Establishing a leadership position early will enable Canada to secure a significant share of a projected $400 billion to $600 billion global market for SMRs to supply, not only electricity, but hydrogen (a clean fuel for transport applications or as a form of energy storage), district heating, desalination of seawater, coupling to energy storage systems, and process heat for industrial uses such as oil sands extraction and upgrading, steel manufacturing, and chemical production.

“The path to deployment requires leadership as well as broad engagement and coordination across the many stakeholders. Community engagement and social acceptance will be a starting point. The agenda is much less about technology, and more about serving the needs of a human, social and environmental agenda,” it says.  

SWEDEN – The Nuclear Leader

The nuclear industry of this Scandinavian country was revitalized in June 2010, when the Swedish Parliament lifted a ban on building new nuclear reactors. This legislation, which entered into force in 2011, allowed for the construction of new reactors on the condition that they replace existing ones being permanently shut down, also provided that they are built on a site with pre-existing reactors in operation, sums up European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group on Swedish nuclear sector.

Recent Swedish media reports suggest that political parties not only agreed for the construction of up to ten new nuclear reactors at existing sites, to replace plants as they retire but also to abolish a tax on nuclear power as it recognizes nuclear’s role in helping the country to eventually achieve a goal of 100% renewable generation.

Setting 2040 as the date at which Sweden should have a 100% renewable electricity system, the document stresses that 2040 is a 'goal' and not a cut-off date for nuclear generation, says a media report.

In a Stanford University research paper titled Nuclear Power in Sweden, author Anthony Tsodikov identifies the importance of Sweden’s role in the global nuclear energy sector. “The country of Sweden is known for their investment into nuclear energy. In Europe, Sweden is a leader in nuclear energy use, with nine nuclear power reactors providing 40% of the country's electricity. Other European countries rely heavily on Sweden for exports of low-carbon electricity.

“Throughout the years, Sweden has been a vocal supporter of eco-friendly measures and has answered the call. Sweden's use of nuclear power has avoided more than two billion tons of C02 emission since 1980,” writes Tsodikov.

However, until recently the powerful political leaders had opposing views on the industry.

Describing the recent history of the Swedish nuclear industry, the World Nuclear Association says: 

“Up to the late 1960s, there was a focus on hydroelectricity to power Sweden's industrial growth. In 1965, it was decided to supplement this with nuclear power, to avoid the uncertainties of oil prices and increase the security of supply. The policy was reinforced by the oil shocks of the early 1970s, at a time when Sweden depended on oil for about one-fifth of its electricity and electricity demand was increasing by seven percent per year.

“In the mid-1970s, the nuclear push became a political issue, and 1977 legislation was passed to ensure proper waste management. This provided the basis for Sweden's world leadership in the management of used fuel (particularly for those countries not reprocessing it),” says the global organization.

The state-run energy firm Vattenfall said a few weeks back that the Swedish nuclear power business needs more than 300 new employees in the coming years.

Vattenfall's wide-ranging nuclear power business requires hundreds of new employees in the coming years and probably even more in the longer term.

"We want to attract, develop and retain staff at the same time as we want to use the campaign to create interest in future career opportunities within an area that is extremely important for Sweden's electricity supply in the future. Looking toward the 2040s, nuclear power generation will create a lot of job opportunities in the next few decades," says Dag Svensson, Head of HR within BA Generation, adding that in 2016 climate-friendly nuclear power accounted for 40 percent of Swedish electricity generation – as much as Swedish hydropower. Swedish nuclear power has been modernized, and Ringhals 3 and 4, as well as Forsmark 1, 2 and 3, are well equipped for long-term operation. Swedish nuclear power is currently creating around 20,000 jobs within operation and maintenance.

With elaborate expansion plans, it seems the Swedish nuclear energy market is ready more investments in the sector.

** This article first appeared in Unisol magazine (Essel Group Middle East) published by Mediaquest Corp, Dubai, UAE.

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