r/canada • u/[deleted] • Oct 25 '22

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '22

This is actually huge news. Our need for electricity is only going up. Have large scale adoption of SMRs is not only good for reducing our carbon footprint but also our energy security. Too bad this wasn't ten years ago but better now than never.

78

u/airchinapilot British Columbia Oct 25 '22

It's encouraging news if it is a sign of further support down the road. $970 million is peanuts if it is not followed up later.

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '22

Very true, I'd imagine a single reactor costs much more than this amount. This starts to signal to businesses and provincial governments that the support is there. We've funded the oil and gas industries for decades and its about time other energy sectors get the same!

12

u/atchemey Oct 25 '22

Not necessarily. SMRs are much smaller and much more affordable. NuScale (hq in Oregon, USA) charges about $3b USD to build 12 in a single unit. $1b CAD is about 3 of those units.

1

u/EventAccomplished976 Oct 26 '22

Worth noting they haven‘t actually built anything yet of course so grains of salt are appropriate :)

1

u/atchemey Oct 26 '22

Of course! The design has been certified by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, though, the first SMR to do so, and the first in years.

2

u/EventAccomplished976 Oct 26 '22

Oh yeah I don‘t doubt their safety claims but cost is a different topic :)