Westinghouse says its eVinci reactor can power 3,000 homes without generating any carbon emissions. (Westinghouse)

By CKOM News Staff

Nuclear microreactor to come online in Sask. by 2029

Nov 27, 2023 | 11:09 AM

Saskatchewan is investing heavily in a nuclear-powered future for the province.

On Monday, Premier Scott Moe announced an investment of $80 million for the Saskatchewan Research Council to demonstrate microreactor technology in the province. The research council will then apply the knowledge gained after licensing and deploying an initial microreactor to support the province’s nuclear development and better understand the technology’s potential.

“This project has the opportunity to be transformative for our economy, industry and communities,” Moe said in a statement. “Microreactors provide a custom solution for Saskatchewan’s unique energy needs.”

The provincial government said the microreactor will be built by Westinghouse Electric Company, which was purchased in part by Saskatoon-based Cameco last year.

Mike Crabtree, the president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Research Council, said the first reactor is expected to be operational by 2029, and will be used in an industrial application to lay the groundwork for more projects further down the road.

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“What we learn through this project will prepare SRC to assist communities and industries in future projects,” Crabtree said in a statement.

The location for the reactor has not yet been decided, the province noted, as it depends on licensing and regulatory requirements. The small size of microreactors mean the infrastructure around the five-megawatt reactor will be “less than two-thirds the size of a hockey rink.”

Patrick Fragman, the president and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Company, said the company’s fully transportable technology is “the perfect fit” for the province.

“It also provides carbon-free electricity and heat, uses no water, and can be completely removed from site after operating continuously for eight years or more,” Fragman added in a statement.

According to Westinghouse’s website, its eVinci reactor, the type being tested in Saskatchewan, can power “more than 3,000 homes.”

Last week, Saskatchewan announced a new partnership between SaskPower and Ontario Power Generation to help advance the two provinces’ nuclear power goals through the development of small, modular reactors.

The federal government also contributed $74 million to the Saskatchewan Research Council’s reactor development project earlier this year, though the amount came under criticism from provincial officials, who said it was too low.

Ottawa’s proposed clean electricity regulations have also come under recent criticism from the provincial government.