Nuclear Energy in Canada

After nearly a decade of pause, the nuclear industry in Canada is picking up speed again. With increased pressure to reduce greenhouse gases while continuing to meet increased demand for energy, more Canadians are looking to nuclear as a possible solution to energy security.

In January, the federal government allotted $351 million in the federal budget towards nuclear power through Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), the refurbishment of two nuclear power plants are underway at Bruce Power in Kincardine and the Ontario Government will be making a decision about the technology selection for two new nuclear reactors at the Darlington plant in Ontario. Throughout Eastern Canada nuclear expansion is quickly gaining momentum.

This isn't just an Eastern Canada movement either. In the past few years, Alberta and Saskatchewan have been reviewing the possibility of nuclear operations. In the spring of 2008, Bruce Power submitted an application to the Alberta government to build up to four reactors near the Peace River area. Saskatchewan, containing the richest known uranium deposits in the world, has recently showed interest in becoming a nuclear leader. Premier Brad Wall has talked about how the province will “lead the development of the nuclear industry in the new west” at the Canadian Nuclear Association Conference in Ottawa in February.

But are these developments a sign that general perceptions towards nuclear energy are changing among Canadian energy consumers? According to Claudia Lemieux with the Canadian Nuclear Association, the answer can be found in the numbers. “Right now, public opinion is at record levels for support of nuclear,” explains Lemieux, citing a study (372KB PDF) released in February 2009, by Ipsos-Reid that showed unprecedented support rates for nuclear plant refurbishment and construction among Canadians. “Over the last year, national support has remained very high, almost half of Canadians support nuclear (48%) as a means to generate electricity with the strongest regional support in Ontario where support for refurbishing existing plants is at 67 per cent and new build at 49 per cent.”

According to the study, the largest increases in support, since January 2008, have occurred in New Brunswick (+9) whose Energy Minister, Hon. Jack Keir, has been keen on advancing the industry in that province, and Alberta (+8), a province that has been historically reliant on fossil fuels and is reviewing nuclear as a potential means to offset emissions. Lemieux says the reason for lower support in regions like Quebec and BC is because those provinces already have a strong hydro base as a means to meet their energy demand and do not see nuclear as a need to meet electricity demand.

Ontario, on the other hand, which had, according to Lemieux, 53 per cent of its electricity generated by nuclear power in 2008, does not have large enough water sources to generate significant increases in hydropower above its current level of 21 per cent. This leaves the province with even fewer options for cleaner energy sources as they plan to phase out coal-fired thermal generation. Another factor contributing to recent increased talk about nuclear is aging power facilities in that region. According to Lemieux, the Ontario government recently acknowledged that 80 per cent of power plants (of all power sources) in that province will neede to be replaced or refurbished over the next twenty years as they reach the end of their life. “With the government having to replace or refurbish the majority of its electricity generation over the several decades Ontario faces huge infrastructure challenges,” Lemieux explains. “The reality is, construction and planning of nuclear power plants lasts eight to 10 years on average and cannot be delayed if Ontario hopes to have the electricity it needs in the future.”

The recent federal budget only confirms the growing perception that nuclear offers a reliable solution to increased gaps in the energy supply. The $351 million will be going towards the development of a third generation Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor, also called the ACR-1000, as well as upgrading the Chalk River Facility. As the Ontario government eyes two refurbishment projects at the Bruce Power plant and waits for the outcome of the RFP technology selection for new nuclear plant construction at Darlington, 2009 is a critical year for the industry in finally moving forward.

“The funding is great news for AECL and Canadians in general,” says Lemieux, adding Canadians can be proud to know the country is a world leader in developing CANDU technology and supplying over 50 per cent of the world's medical isotopes from its Chalk River Facility. “Canada is a leader in nuclear research and development and medical isotope production, which is how our medical isotope industry began.”

In addition to electricity generation and medical uses, nuclear technology is used in a wide range of other applications including food irradiation, desalination of water, pest control in agriculture and common consumer products (28KB PDF), including smoke alarms.

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