A new dawn for nuclear in Canada’s low-carbon future
The annual Canadian Nuclear Association conference was held from 12-14 April. “Together for Net Zero,” landed on the heels of a federal commitment to radical decarbonisation and a budget that recognised the need for nuclear integration deeper within Canada’s energy strategy. It’s opening the door to a national nuclear opportunity, NEI contributor, Jacquie Hoornweg reports.
APRIL 29, 2022 – On 31 March, 2022, Canada’s Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act was published and with it, a federal commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Act includes aggressive 2030 milestone targets that call for emissions reductions of 40-45% from 2005 levels.
The following week, the government answered their own call to action, in part, with a budget that included the most bullish language on nuclear energy in more than a generation. Key nuclear planks included funding for small modular reactor (SMR) deployment and evolution of the country’s regulatory framework to support it.
A few days later, as the industry gathered at the 2022 Canadian Nuclear Association Conference, in-person for the first time in more than two years, there was palpable excitement. The industry feels itself sitting on the cusp of unprecedented growth, tempered only by the speed, scale, and fortitude required to land this expansion opportunity.
There are technical challenges to be sure, and added to that, the daunting statistics concerning the required workforce during a time of high demand for talent. Certainly, young engineers in attendance had full dance cards. Larger still is the challenge to build literacy and earn trust with the public and stakeholders in greenfield communities and more generally, across the country.
Click here to read the full NEI article.