Request for Expressions of Interest—CNL’s Small Modular Reactor Strategy

1.Purpose of this RFEOI

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd. (CNL) is issuing this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to better understand: market interest in SMRs, including the siting of a demonstration or prototype; interest in R&D and other services at CNL to support SMR development;the challenges and opportunities in bringing SMRs to market; and other interest in SMRs from a variety of stakeholders. Technology developers, supply chain, potential end users, operators, and any other interested parties, are invited to identify what is needed to realize the benefits of SMRs for Canada, and provide their thoughts on how they can, and how CNL can,contribute to this goal. We alsoinvite responses from potential host communities, customers, or other non-technical, interested parties and stakeholders. All feedback provided will be reviewed and may be considered for incorporation into CNL’s planning processes as appropriate.

Through this RFEOI, CNL is seeking non-binding engagements with industry and other stakeholders to better inform its SMR program, including hosting a demonstration or prototype reactor at CNL. The intent is to use this information to:

  • Measure respondent interest in constructing a prototype or demonstration reactor on a CNL-managed site;
  • Understand what various stakeholders can contribute to the SMR program at CNL;
  • Identify the needs of respondents in terms of R&D facilities and expertise, and services that CNL could provide in hosting a reactor;
  • Obtain information to guide the development of licence applications;
  • Engage with stakeholders such as governments, funders, communities and potential end-users;
  • Understand the potential opportunities for new prototype and demonstration reactors; and
  • Obtain information to guide internal planning.

This RFEOI is only a request for information. This RFEOI is not a step or pre-requisite to any future procurement. This RFEOI is a non-binding process on CNL and CNL shall not be obligated in any manner to any interested party under this RFEOI. CNL reserves the right to modify, cancel or suspend the RFEOI process at any stage at any time for any reason and to accept or reject any response at any time.

2.Introduction

Increasingly over the past decade, small modular reactors (SMRs) have been recognized as a potential alternative to large-scale nuclear reactors. SMRsmay offer several advantages over traditional technologies, notably: a reduced size more suitable for some applications; the ability to purchase and construct in a modular way, decreasesin up-front capital costs; simpler, less complex plants; and a reduced staff complement. In addition to electricity generation, SMRs can be part of an overall energy scheme that could include applications such as district heating, co-generation, energy storage, desalination, or hydrogen production.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is advancing science and technology for a clean and secure world. Building on decades of experience in supporting and deploying numerous prototype, demonstration, research, and power reactors, CNL is well-positioned to support the development and deployment of SMRs, including hosting a demonstration facility. Recently restructured into a Government-owned Contractor-operated (GoCo) model,CNL is well positioned to leverage our diverse capabilities for commercial success in Canadian and international SMR markets.

CNL can offer support in all aspects, from technology development through to deployment, including demonstration on one of its licenced sites, with support for regulatory considerations. CNL manages several well characterized sites licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, with multiple siting opportunities and the required supporting services and general infrastructure. Several nuclear reactors have been built and operated at CNL sites over the past 60 years. The integrated nature of the sitein asupportive host community creates a collaborative environment where stakeholders, students, visiting scientists, operators, regulators and the supply chain can meet, discuss technical aspects of the SMRs, and advance and understand the technologies.

CNL is interested in exploring opportunities to hosta demonstration or prototype SMR (or vSMR, very small modular reactors). CNL offers a world-class R&D team with comprehensive experimental and modeling facilities, underpinned by a complete roster of support services such as radiation protection; health physics; security; safeguards and nuclear material management; and emergency planning. CNL hascommercially available research facilities and scientists to perform discovery R&D and solve key technology challenges, along withintegrated fuel manufacturing, testing and examination, and waste solutions.

New capital investments in facilities, equipment and infrastructure are planned for CNL. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, such as a new switchyard, municipal services, and a tri-generation plant, the largest single capital investment currently planned is the construction of an advanced nuclear materials and fuel research centre. This new facility will be the foundational element supporting the broader S&T program including the SMR program. This facility is anticipated to strengthen our existing capabilities in nuclear fuels and materials testing and characterization, with a suite of new, world class hot cells, shielded facilities, and flexible laboratories.

CNL intends to begin the initial site selection and licensing process for the first demonstration or prototype reactor (Class I facility) in 2017. At this preliminary stage, these activities will be technology neutral, and inclusive of all potential technologies.

The Canadian regulatory framework supports the regulation of advanced and small modular reactors, and is a key enabler of SMR demonstration and an SMR industry in Canada. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) makes regulatory decisions in a risk-informed manner, recognizing that flexibility might be required on a case-by-case basis. The regulatory process allows licensees to propose alternative methods that are acceptable to the CNSC to demonstrate an acceptable safety case. The CNSC is engaging with the SMR community, for example through its recent discussion paper, Small Modular Reactors: Regulatory Strategy, Approaches and Challenges. The CNSC is open to new licensing applications, including pre-licensing vendor design reviews, several of which are already underway for small modular reactor technologies.

Through this RFEOI, CNL aims to build an understanding of the capabilities of technology developers and other stakeholders, both what they would bring to a partnership with CNL, and what is needed for successful commercial deployment. Input is requested from SMR technology developers, potential end users of these technologies, and any other interested parties and stakeholders, including but not limited to potential host communities, unions, the Canadian nuclear supply chain, and research and academic institutions.

3.Information Requested Under This RFEOI

The RFEOI response comprises three sections:

  • Section One: Executive summary
  • Section Two: General Information for Deployment of SMR Technology in Canada (for all stakeholders or other interested parties)
  • Section Three: Technology Specific Information (for SMR technology developers)

3.1.General

Respondents are encouraged to offer concise comments and insights that they believe would be beneficial to CNL in the objective of hosting a demonstration or prototype reactor.

Although CNL is seeking responses that are as comprehensive as possible, it is understood that, for various reasons, potential respondents may be unable to provide some of the information requested. Provision of whatever information is possible will be helpful and appreciated.

Respondents are requested to submit electronic submissions only as specified in Section 5: Submission Information; printed copies are not required.

CNL intends to use the results of thisRFEOI to inform future engagements. If your response contains proprietary information, this information must be identified as such. CNL reserves the right to publicly disclose any informationthat is not clearly identified as proprietary.If you feel disclosure of proprietary information would benefit this process, and would prefer to do so under a separate arrangement such as a Non-Disclosure Agreement, please contact CNL through the information provided in Section 5.

Responses to this RFEOI maybe shared with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and its Shareholder, the Minister of Natural Resources. Any proprietary information will be treated appropriately by CNL, AECL and Natural Resources Canada.

3.2.Executive Summary

The response should begin with a one-page summary that includes the following information:

Request for Expressions of Interest – CNL’s SMR Strategy

Lead Organization Responding (legal name)

Any other participating organizations (name of each)

Stakeholder group:

a)Reactor vendor/designer

b)Service or product provider

c)Potential end-user

d)Potential host community

e)Potential operator or electricity distributor

f)Other stakeholder, please specify

Summary of Interest (one paragraph)

Expertise/capability of the respondent(s) (one paragraph)
Please outline your potential contributions to a Canadian SMR industry and potential partnership with CNL.

Contact Information

3.3.Main Body of Submission

The response should include all of the headings provided below in the order in which they appear. For each section, guidelines regarding the type of information being sought are provided; however, respondents may include any information they deem relevant for each section. Where information requested is not available, is not relevant to the response or cannot be provided for any reason, respondents should include the title of the section and then leave it blank or provide only that information that is applicable. Responses to the General Information section must not exceed eight pages. Responses to the SMR Technology Developer section must not exceed fifteen pages.

3.3.1.General Information for Deployment of SMR Technology in Canada (Stakeholders or Other Interested Parties)

All SMR stakeholders or any other interested parties are invited to respond to the questions below. In addition to the question limits provided below, the overall length of responses for this section should not exceed eight pages. In formulating your responses, please consider your needs in general, not only those that you perceive could be met by CNL. Through this RFEOI we seek to gather a comprehensive picture.

  1. What are your energy needs?
  2. Describe the attributes of the ideal solution to meet those energy needs.
  3. Have you considered nuclear energy as a solution?
  4. What is needed for you to consider nuclear energy as a solution?
  5. What do you see as your role in the process to bring an SMR to deployment?
  • Please provide details on your organization’s readiness to work with CNL. This could include, but is not limited to: financial resources, technical capabilities, geographic constraints, particular areas of strength, size of workforce (in Canada/ out of Canada).
  1. From your perspective, what is needed to successfully deploy SMR technologies within Canada?
  • The response should consider the following questions:
  • What do end users need to have confidence to adopt these technologies?
  • What do other industry partners and communities need?
  • What is the biggest obstacle to deployment of prototypes or demonstration SMR technologies?
  • What is the biggest obstacle to deployment of these technologies on a commercial basis within Canada?
  1. What role do you see R&D and/or technology development playing in addressing the obstacles identified in question two?
  2. What additional applications (e.g. district heating, hydrogen production, energy storage) do you consider as being most advantageous?
  3. Would you / your organization like additional information – in general terms – regarding SMR technology? If so, please suggest ways you feel we could best communicate with you or your organization / constituents, and any specific areas of interest or methods of communication. Registration to receive email updates for the RFEOI is available at
  4. Please provide any additional input you feel could help inform CNL’s SMR strategy.
3.3.2.Technology Specific Information (SMR Technology Developers)

Developers of SMR technologies who are interested in potentially constructing a demonstration or prototype reactor at a CNL site are requested to provide input about their technology and needs associated with the demonstration or prototype reactor, and by when these are required. Any proprietary information provided should be labelled as such. Please limit responses to fifteen pages.

These questions are posed to provide CNL a better understanding of the technologies and needs. Some of these may be topics that you are unable or unwilling to share at this time or as part of this process. We would like to solicit any information that you are willing to provide.

If your demonstration/prototype reactor varies in any of these characteristics from the commercial units, please provide information on both, as applicable.

Developer Attributes
  1. What are the planned benefits of your technology to the Canadian economy, R&D community and supply chain?
  2. Include direct financial and any other indirect benefits
  3. Description of reactor technology
  • Overview of the reactor design, including: coolant, fuel type and enrichment, safety systems, waste streams, temperatures, physical size, effluents (including thermal loading), and fuel inventory
  • Reactor thermal power output
  • Technology Readiness Level[1]
  1. Other desired applications for the reactor
  • Is there a need or interest in, for example, co-generation/tri-generation, power production either for CNL site use or to be output to the electrical grid, coupling to energy storage systems, etc.
  • Please specify if these applications are desired for a prototype or demonstration reactor as well as for a commercial reactor.
  1. Potential for research capabilities of the demonstration or prototype reactor
  • Describe if there is an intent to have any research capabilities as part of the demonstration or prototype reactor, such as irradiation sites, and/or under what circumstances these would be considered.
  1. Waste generation and management
  2. Please describe the nature and quantities of waste expected to be generated (low, intermediate and high-level), and describe how this may be addressed.
  3. Cost
  4. Please provide estimated costs of a prototype or demonstration project.
  5. Please provide any high-level estimates of the deployment lifecycle costs.
  6. Business Considerations and Deployment
  7. Please provide information about how and where you would see the technology deployed, models for licensing, who would be the owner/operator, estimated cost of electricity and/or heat, and any other business case considerations.
  8. Implementation Timeline
  • Outline the timeline for the R&D, licensing, construction and operation of your reactor technology, both prototype/demonstration facility, and for commercial deployment, if known.
  • Identify any go-no go or stage gating process
  1. Risk
  • Identify known risks in terms of technical risk, business risk, and other risks
Developer Requirements
  1. Site requirements for a prototype or demonstration
  • Size and depth of land requirements, including the size of land potentially required for construction laydown areas
  • Other infrastructure requirements for the site, e.g. water requirements (specifically water intake flow requirements)
  • CNL sites of interest
  • Please provide your minimum requirements as well as your optimal requirements
  1. R&D Facilities and Activities of Interest
  • See Annex 1 for a list of S&Tcapabilities
  • Add any other capabilities not listed in Annex 1 thatCNL could develop or offer via partnerships. Specify if there is a desire for these facilities to be co-located with the demonstration or prototype reactor, rather than available at another location
  • Provide an outline of your R&D program plans to support technology development, design and licensing, andhow CNL could assist with your R&D program.
  1. Services that would be sought from CNL
  • See Annex 2 for a list of support services
  • Add any other services or infrastructure requirements.Please note any services that would be required but you consider to be currently lacking or underdeveloped in the marketplace.
  1. Other related facilities of interest
  • Indicate needs for facilities such as fuel fabrication, post irradiation examination, waste disposal, decommissioning, fuel reprocessing demonstration, etc.
  1. Additional Information
  • Any additional information or considerationsmay be provided regarding CNL as a host site for a demonstration or prototype SMR.

4.Terms of the RFEOI

This RFEOI is only a request for information. This RFEOI is not a step or pre-requisite to any future procurement. This RFEOI is a non-binding process on CNL and CNL shall not be obligated in any manner to any interested party under this RFEOI. For certainty, it is not, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as an invitation to bid, call for tenders or request for proposals. This RFEOI is neither a procurement contract nor a contract to carry out any services as a result of this RFEOI or as a result of an RFEOI submission.

CNL reserves the right to:

a)Modify, cancel or suspend the RFEOI process at any stage at any time for any reason;

b)Accept or reject any response in the sole and absolute discretion of CNL;

c)Not accept any response; and/or

d)Reject or disqualify all or any RFEOI without any obligation, compensation or reimbursement to any Interested Party.

5.Submission Information

All inquiries regarding this RFEOI must be directed by email to:

Bronwyn Hyland
Program Manager, Small Modular Reactor Technologies

A response is requested by email to or before July 31, 2017.

Note: Those who wish to respond to only section 3.3.1 (General Information for Deployment of SMR Technology in Canada (Stakeholders or Other Interested Parties)) are welcome to submit their responses online at

Annex 1: List of CNL S&T Capabilities

Advanced Nuclear Fuels & Materials Research / Radiobiology, Radioecology & Dosimetry / Hydrogen & Hydrogen Isotopes Management / Nuclear Safety, Security & Risk Management / Nuclear & Systems Engineering / Nuclear Chemistry Applications
Advanced Fuel Cycle Analysis
Fuel Development
Fuel Fabrication and Assembly
Fuel Characterization
Fuel Performance Evaluation
Fuel Qualification Support
Plutonium and Other Actinides Expertise
Materials Characterization
In-Reactor Testing
Neutron Scattering
Fracture Mechanics
Delayed Hydride Cracking
Materials and Components Examination
Fuel Post-Irradiation Examination
Stress Corrosion and Fatigue Cracking / Radiobiology
Dosimetry
Analytical Radiochemistry
Environmental Remediation
Geochemistry
Radioecology
Environmental Modeling and Instrumentation
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Analysis / Chemical Engineering Processes
Hydrogen Isotopes Expertise
Catalyst Development
Tritium Handling, Separation, Removal and Simulation / Severe Accident Experiments and Analysis
Hydrogen Safety Experiments and Analysis
Fuel Channel Safety Experiments and Analysis
Reactor Safety Experiments & Analysis
System Thermalhydraulics
Multi-physics Multi-scale Modelling
Reactor System Model Applications
Computational Science
Big Data and Analytics
Cyber Security
Criticality Analysis
Code Verification, Validation and Quality Assurance
Safeguards and Non-proliferation
Nuclear Instrumentation Development
Experimental Reactor Physics
Nuclear Data Generation and Evaluation
Human Performance / Reactor Control
Instrumentation, Control and Software
Nuclear Systems Analysis
Pump Seal Development & Production
Robotics and Automated Systems
Tooling Design
Additive Manufacturing
Ultrasonic Inspection Technology
Electromagnetic Inspection Technology
Non-Destructive Examination Technologies
Vibration and Wear
Online Material and Component Monitoring / Waste Processing Technologies
Nuclear Forensics
Radiochemical Analysis
Heavy Water and Thermal Ion Mass Spectrometry
Radiation Chemistry
High Temperature Water Chemistry
Nuclear Power Plant Chemistry
Corrosion and Electrochemistry
Surface Science

Figure 1CNL’s six broad S&T Capabilities