SaskPower signs deal with nuclear energy firm for small-modular reactor
By Medicine Hat News on January 31, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews SaskPower and GE Hitachi have signed a development agreement toward commissioning a small-modular nuclear reactor in Saskatchewan, the Crown power provider announced Tuesday. Currently, SaskPower is evaluating two sites for suitability – Elbow, near Lake Diefenbaker, and Estevan – and in 2022 selected the BWRX-300 model from GE Hitachi as its preferred technology. On Tuesday, the two sides formalized a pact to collaborate on project planning and facilitate design, fuel sourcing and fabrication. Rupen Pandya, SaskPower president, said the deal will help planning work and licence applications proceed. “Leveraging experience and expertise from our colleagues in the nuclear industry is an important part of our planning work,” Pandya said in a release. The BWRX-300, which can produce about 300 megawatts, was also selected by Ontario’s Crown power producer for use at the Darlington nuclear facility. Earlier this Month, Alberta-based Capital Power announced it was working with Ontario Power Generation to study the potential to build and operate such a facility and put baseload power onto the Alberta grid. 9-8
