The government of Saskatchewan announced $80 million in funding for the Saskatchewan Research council to pursue the demonstration of a microreactor. SRC will use the research and knowledge gained from the licensing and deployment of an initial microreactor to help the Saskatchewan nuclear industry better understand this type of technology and the potential for future microreactor projects in the province.
“This project has the opportunity to be transformative for our economy, industry and communities,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Microreactors provide a custom solution for Saskatchewan’s unique energy needs.”
The eVinciTM microreactor which is being built by Westinghouse Electric Company and it’s surrounding infrastructure will only be about two thirds the size of a hockey rink. The eVinciTM will be capable of producing five megawatts of electricity, over 13 megawatts of high temperate heat, or operating combined heat and power mode.
“I think that we can see in the next coming decades, there being between ten to 15 of these microreactors particularly in the north,” said SRC President and CEO Mike Crabtree.
Many northern communities rely on fossil fuels for power because clean energy isn’t as available in remote areas. Connecting northern communities to centralized grids by power lines costs billions and microreactors can offer a promising solution for those northern communities. Along with providing cleaner more accessible energy to northern communities, microreactors will also create more job opportunities for the people living in those communities.
“This first microreactor will open the door for future deployments across Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for SRC Jeremy Harrison said. “These deployments will create economic development opportunities and jobs.”
At this time the microreactor is expected to be operational by 2029, but that could change depending on licensing and regulatory requirements.
(Photo submitted by SRC of CEO & President Mike Crabtree in a media scrum at the nuclear announcement.)