Global First Power’s application to deploy a small modular reactor has been moved to the technical review phase of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) licensing process; GFP has aimed deployment by 2026

The proposed site of Global First Project’s SMR at Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, Credit: GFP website
Global First Power Ltd’s (GFP) application to deploy a small modular reactor (SMR) at Chalk River in Ontario has moved to the technical review phase of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) licensing process. GFP plans to deploy a Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) unit by 2026.
Launched in 2020, GFP is a joint venture by Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) and Ontario Power Generation to build, own, and operate a proposed MMR at the Chalk River Laboratories site. The 15 MW high temperature gas-cooled MMR would provide process heat to an adjacent plant via a molten salt heat exchange system. It is based on UNSC’s proprietary Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated fuel technology, which uses tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel.
Chalk River Laboratories is owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) and managed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). AECL and CNL are working to demonstrate the commercial viability of SMRs and to position Canada as a leader in SMR prototype testing and technology development support. In 2018 CNL invited SMR developers to apply for the deployment of a demonstration reactor at one of its sites. According to CNL, GFP is now at the third of four stages in the invitation process and is the concept most advanced towards deployment.
AECL President and CEO Fred Dermarkar said it was a major development in achieving Canada’s climate change goals. “Nuclear energy and SMRs will have to be part of our energy mix if we want to meet our objective of reaching net-zero by 2050. As pioneers of innovative nuclear technology in this country, it is exciting to see continued progress towards the deployment of this promising clean energy technology at our Chalk River site,” he said.
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