Monitoring emerging technologies

Governments around the world are increasingly looking to nuclear energy as part of climate change initiatives. Here in Canada, the nuclear sector is actively exploring emerging nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs), fuel reprocessing (sometimes referred to as recycling) and other types of advanced reactors.

Overview

Under the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act (2002), the NWMO is responsible for the safe, long-term management of all Canada’s used nuclear fuel, including that created using new or emerging technologies.

Managing used nuclear fuel

Emerging technologies such as SMRs or used nuclear fuel reprocessing will generate additional used nuclear fuel or other radioactive waste which will have characteristics similar to the used nuclear fuel from Canada’s current nuclear energy reactors.

No matter the source of the fuel, safety will always be our top priority.  

To ensure it is safe to manage, fuel waste will need to meet certain criteria:

The waste must be a stable, unreactive solid material.
Detailed information about the nature of the waste must be available, including information on physical characteristics, chemical composition, durability and other information that might influence repository design. 
Lastly, the fuel must be transportable to the repository site, and be able to fit into a licensed transportation package.

Adapting to new knowledge

Canada’s plan will contain and isolate all the country’s used nuclear fuel—including that created by new and emerging technologies—in a deep geological repository, using a multiple-barrier system. There is international consensus that deep geological repositories represent the best practice for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel resulting from alternate fuel cycles. Countries that reprocess used nuclear fuel—and others that are examining advanced fuel cycles—all have plans to implement deep geological repositories.

Known as Adaptive Phased Management, Canada’s plan will be implemented over many decades. A fundamental tenet of this approach is incorporating new knowledge and adapting to new technology. We’re building flexibility into repository designs so we can be ready to manage new types of used nuclear fuel.

Host communities for the planned deep geological repository will be part of decision-making for any plans to manage new forms of used nuclear fuel in the repository. For example, through discussions about partnership agreements, the NWMO will work with potential host communities to develop and agree on a process for managing future changes to the type or volume of waste to be managed in the repository.

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Small modular reactors

New nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and very small modular reactors (VSMRs), may result in different types of used fuel. We are actively monitoring potential SMR projects and are in dialogue with multiple SMR and VSMR proponents to help us prepare for decisions that could change the volume and type of waste we are responsible for managing.

Interest in SMRs has strongly increased in the past few years, in part with the development of Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Action Plan.

The NWMO has participated in Canada’s SMR Action Plan and has committed to three actions: 

Demonstration and deployment: Early engagement with SMR vendors on technical specifications and costs;
Capacity, engagement and public confidence: Public and community engagement about used fuel from SMRs; and
Capacity, engagement and public confidence: Promoting diversity in the future SMR workforce.

No matter the source of the fuel, safety will always be our top priority.

Frequently asked questions

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How does the NWMO plan to address used fuel from small modular reactors (SMRs)?

Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel will be implemented over many decades, and a fundamental tenet of our approach is incorporating new knowledge and adapting to new technology.

In Canada, there is an active research sector exploring new technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs), fuel reprocessing and other types of advanced reactors.

New nuclear technologies such as SMRs or very small modular reactors (VSMRs) may result in different types of used fuel.

There is international consensus that deep geological repositories represent the best practice for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel resulting from SMRs, including any high-level waste from reprocessing.

Canada’s plan is designed to adapt to changes in technology, and we can build flexibility into repository designs so we can be ready for future decisions.

Host communities will be part of the decision-making for any plans to manage SMR-related used nuclear fuel in the deep geological repository.

For example, we are working with potential host communities to develop and agree on processes for managing changes to the type or volume of used nuclear fuel to be managed.

Regardless of the source of the nuclear fuel waste, safety will always be our top priority. As such, fuel waste will need to meet certain criteria:

The waste must be a stable, unreactive solid material.
Detailed information about the nature of the waste must be available, including information on physical characteristics, chemical composition and durability, as well as other information that might influence repository design.
Lastly, the fuel must be transportable to the repository site, fitting into a licensed transportation package.

I heard we’ll be able to reprocess used nuclear fuel, so why bury it?

If Canada chooses to reprocess nuclear fuel in the future, it will be a joint decision by the nuclear energy producers, the associated provincial governments and the federal government.

Studies conducted around the world have concluded that high-level waste from reprocessing should also be contained and isolated in a deep geological repository.

If such a decision were made, the NWMO would work with utilities and government to safely manage whatever high-level waste resulted from this process. For example, if some used fuel was identified for reprocessing, it could be diverted for that purpose instead of being placed in the deep geological repository.

What if nuclear plants with different fuel types are used in the future?

In the future, decisions regarding nuclear power generation made by provincial governments, nuclear plant operators and regulators may result in different types of used fuel. Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel has sufficient flexibility to manage different types of used fuel if necessary.

If power plant operators, governments and regulators made the decision to use different fuel, we would review our design and safety case and update our plans in consultation with interested parties. For example, regulators and host communities will be part of the decision-making for plans to manage changes in the volume or type of used nuclear fuel in the deep geological repository.

No matter the type of used fuel, safety will always be our top priority.

What happens to the plan if new nuclear plants are built?

Future decisions about nuclear power generation made by provincial governments, nuclear plant operators and regulators may result in changes to the type or volume of used nuclear fuel. For instance, we are closely monitoring a number of potential new nuclear projects.

Host communities will be part of the decision-making for plans to manage new used nuclear fuel in the deep geological repository. For example, we are working with potential host communities to develop and agree on processes for managing changes to the type or volume of used nuclear fuel to be managed. Canada’s plan is designed to adapt to changes in technology, and we can build flexibility into repository designs so we can be ready for future decisions.

We continue to actively engage with proponents of potential new nuclear projects to help us prepare for decisions that could change the volume and type of waste we are responsible for managing.

Regulatory review processes and approvals, which are required by law before the facility can be constructed and operated, will be based on a specific fuel inventory and will also involve an open and transparent consultation process.