HYBRID SYSTEMS USING SMRS: A PATH TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY IN NUCLEAR AND CANADIAN ENERGY PRODUCTION

Abstract

Nuclear technology development in Canada has been relatively stagnant since the 1980s, when CANDU reactors were first implemented into the power grid. Reprocessing technologies such as pyroprocessing and the fluoride volatility method would introduce new opportunities for numerous industries throughout Canada. Transmutation of minor actinides and fission products have been proven to ease requirements of fuel repositories due to the reduction in radioactivity. Economic advantages from implementing SMRs in various industrial systems, including Canadian oil sands, would increase efficiency while decreasing CO2 emissions.