The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Alberta to establish a comprehensive cooperation framework to jointly explore the viability of small modular reactor (SMR) technologies to help to meet Alberta’s net-zero targets. The MoU was signed by KAERI President Dr Joo Han-Gyu, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy & Northern Development Brian Jean, and Minister of Trade, Immigration & Multiculturalism Rajan Sawhney, at a virtual event. It seeks to bolster collaboration on the deployment of SMR technology, including Korea’s System-integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor (SMART).
Alberta is one of four Canadian provinces – the others are New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan – that have agreed to a joint strategic plan outlining their strong support for the path forward on SMRs. Since then, KAERI and Alberta have discussed clean energy cooperation based on KAERI’s SMR technology, particularly SMART. There have also been technical discussions between private sectors, and high-level exchanges, including the visit of Ministers Jean and Sawhney to Korea in February. SMR technology is viewed as having great potential to supply energy to many different industries and applications, including in Alberta’s oilsands.
"This mutual cooperation agreement was promoted to discuss the issue of applying SMART technology with almost no carbon emissions to supply necessary steam to oil sands (tar sands) mining areas in Alberta," KAERI said. "Based on this agreement, the two sides plan to share in advance the information necessary to confirm the feasibility of SMART construction and further obtain licences.”
Korean companies, including Hyundai Engineering, have already been promoting projects that utilise SMART technologies for Alberta oil sand mining, KAERI noted. “This mutual cooperation agreement is expected to promote the activities of these companies."
At the signing ceremony Dr Joo said “it is time to translate the net-zero emission commitment into actions, and SMR technology is crucial in carbon reduction actions”. He added that deployment of SMART in Alberta would pioneer the battle against climate change. Minister Jean noted that the Government of Alberta “is open to exploring all technologies, including SMRs, to help energy production thrive in a low-carbon future”. Through the agreement with KAERI, “we are continuing to explore deploying SMR technology and strengthening Alberta’s position as a world-leading responsible energy producer for years to come”. Minister Sawhney said he was excited about the potential for SMR technologies, such as KAERI’s.
SMART is a 330 MWt pressurised water reactor with integral steam generators and advanced safety features with a 60-year design life and three-year refuelling cycle. The unit is intended to produce electricity (up to 100 MWe) as well as heat for thermal applications, such as seawater desalination. SMART received standard design approval from the Korean regulator in mid-2012 following completion of the basic design, and KAERI had planned to build a demonstration plant to begin operation in 2017. However, further development was delayed, in part because of a lack of orders for an initial reference unit. During their February visit to Korea, Jean and Sawhney visited KAERI's research facilities, including the SMART-ITL and SMART-MCR Simulator.
Jean said: “Alberta is, and always will be, an energy powerhouse. Alberta’s government is committed to actively exploring opportunities to lower emissions while safely powering the world for decades to come. This MoU will allow us to build on the South Korean government’s interest in supporting safe and effective deployment of their SMR technology. It offers an opportunity to leverage new innovations to grow Alberta’s energy economy.”
Invest Alberta, a Crown corporation of the Alberta Government, in March signed an MoU with ARC Clean Technology Canada to jointly pursue activities to support commercialisation of ARC's ARC-100 SMR technology in the province. That followed an MoU signed in January with X-Energy Canada to develop economic opportunities supporting the potential deployment of the Xe-100 SMR. It has also supported SMR developer Terrestrial Energy in its efforts to expand its operations into Alberta.
The MoU with KAERI is effective for three years. Any SMR technology deployed in Alberta must meet Canadian safety requirements and would require an approved design and approved permitting for the reactor installation. SMART is one of only a few modular reactor technologies to have received design approvals from a nuclear regulatory agency.
Image courtesy of KAERI
