Application of Micro Reactors in Mining Operations

Ken Darlington, Vice-President of Business Development for Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) will be conducting a virtual presentation on using micro nuclear reactors at mining operations.  This presentation will be able to be watched in the Griffin Room of The Counting House on Cornhill or online with GoToMeeting.

One can register for this event on Eventbrite at this LINK.

Application of Micro Reactors in Mining Operations (Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation)

Until now, mines operating in remote areas have relied on polluting or intermittent sources of power. These off-grid projects and communities have had to rely on diesel-powered generators, and to a limited extent, wind, and solar power. Diesel generators are heavy polluters, and they require regular deliveries of fuel and storage capacity on site. Wind and solar depend on the elements, limiting their reliability.  For mining operations, nuclear energy eliminates the polluting ways of diesel while addressing the challenges of wind and solar.

Ultra Safe Nuclear’s innovative solution, the Micro Modular Reactor (MMR®) Energy System, delivers abundant, affordable, clean power. The MMR nuclear reactor unit generates 15 MW of thermal energy, enough to generate 5 MW of electricity or process heat and can be deployed in multiple units to meet end user needs. The reactor runs for 20 years without refueling and provides energy equivalent to 200 million litres of diesel during its lifetime and requires no external power or water to operate, making it ideal for remote mining operations and associated communities.

The MMR provides power that is reliable and cost-competitive, but also environmentally responsible, helping mining companies meet their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets. Moreover, the MMR has a small environmental footprint and can be harmonized with wind and solar to meet 100% of power demand.

With an MMR, the cost of the electricity and process heat are fixed for the lifetime of the plant. The MMR is not subject to price fluctuations and therefore brings cost certainty to long-term energy supply. Over its 20-year lifetime, there is an estimated 40-50% cost savings compared to diesel.

The first step in commercializing the Ultra Safe Nuclear-designed micro reactor is the MMR Project at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) managed site in Chalk River, Ontario. Ultra Safe Nuclear will develop and construct its first reactor under the Global First Power (GFP) partnership established with Ontario Power Generation (OPG).  Ultra Safe Nuclear is also actively engaged in developing a micro reactor project in the United Kingdom with financial support of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Canada has a mature nuclear regulatory framework and Ultra Safe Nuclear’s MMR is the most advanced small modular reactor (SMR) in the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) licensing process.  There is an active application for a CNSC License to Prepare Site (the first of three licenses required to build and operate the reactor) for Chalk River, and the Environmental Assessment work is underway.  Indigenous and local community engagement is ongoing and an essential component of project success.

The reactor at Chalk River will be operational by 2026 solidifying Ultra Safe Nuclear’s leading position to commercialize in the 2020s. Chalk River will serve as the blueprint for future projects across the industry and demonstrate the MMR as a tangible energy solution for remote mining operations.

If you can make it to the Counting House, it will be terrific to meet you there and chat after the presentation.  Otherwise, it will be good to see you on GoToMeeting.

As of Friday, October 30th at 07:00 BST, it will be possible to register for this event on Eventbrite at this LINK.