Updated Hatch SMR deployment evaluation framework

Abstract

Gihm et al. at Hatch previously produced a report titled “Feasibility of the Potential Deployment of Small Modular Reactors in Ontario.” for Ontario’s Ministry of Energy in 2016. The Small Modular Reactor (SMR) industry was in its infancy, and various SMR developers had just begun to promote their technologies and business cases to governments, regulators, and investors. In order to evaluate then the non-existent SMR technologies for their deployment feasibility in a non- existent market, Hatch developed an evaluation framework that first categorized SMRs based on their intended use and then created a custom technology readiness level (TRL) and vendor readiness level (VRL) scoring system. This evaluation framework became the standard methodology used by many industry and government participants (within Canada and Internationally) who are considering SMRs.

The SMR market landscape has changed significantly since then. A few SMR projects have been announced by Canadian provinces, and many industrial users started considering SMRs as potential carbon emission reduction technologies. In this study, Hatch refreshed and expanded the SMR technology evaluation and selection framework to accommodate changes in the market condition.