CNL’s Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative – A Successful Vehicle for Advanced Reactor Technology Development in Canada

Abstract

A wide variety of advanced reactor developers are looking to Canada as a promising market for their technology. As Canada’s national nuclear laboratory, it is important for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to develop a broad range of capabilities and expertise to support these developers throughout the design, licencing, construction, and operation of their reactors. The Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) has proven to be a valuable tool for engaging SMR developers and initiating mutually beneficial research and engineering projects on a cost-sharing basis. This paper will highlight the key features of the CNRI program and examine multiple high- profile projects to demonstrate how these features have enabled rapid progress on SMR deployment efforts in Canada.