Q&A With Darryl Spector: Exciting transformational innovations from nuclear with big societal impacts!

As with any technology new technological evolution, we’re seeing consolidation and ‘front-runner’s emerge, and other players’ development momentum slow down.  One of the prevailing developments is the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 currently slated for the OPG Darlington site—site preparation has already begun, and we’ve already started to see the trickle-down effects of commercial opportunities take hold as the design and build evolutions mature.  As well, Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor development is also advancing with impressive developments of the reactor’s validation and proof of principle tests.  Once the first SMR in Canada starts being built and taking shape, it will further legitimize the role Canada plays on the world stage as a nuclear technology powerhouse.

Innovation in the nuclear industry is essential for the sector to remain competitive.  We’re seeing tremendous benefits of applying innovative approaches to conventional nuclear reactor refurbishment execution campaigns at Bruce Power and OPG, such as the introduction of fully-automated robotics being deployed on traditionally semi-automated or manual operations.  Every year, the utilities have been engaging substantial innovation campaigns to drive efficiency in day-today operations, but also in ramping up total power being produced, so the total megawatts (MW) of power output being generated from the same reactor sites is increasing year after year.  Over time, this adds up to significant additional energy generation being supplied to the grid.  Additionally, we’re seeing innovation increase reliability and safety of operating plants. 

The economic benefits of a healthy nuclear energy industry are profound—both in wage growth, as well as local investment.  The operating plants require a significant critical mass of direct local talent, as well as the spin-off benefits created by engaging a local work force—thriving communities with a steady stream of infrastructure investment necessary to support the retained workforce.  Additionally, one of the common values of the nuclear energy industry and institutions is a commitment to manifesting Indigenous reconciliation principles through a strong encouragement of the supply chain to drive economic reconciliation with indigenous suppliers.  OPG, for example, has committed to the bold target of allocating $1 billion of their total spend over 10 years to directly satisfying the commitment to indigenous communities and businesses through very diligent procurement mandates and frameworks.  As well, with the growing likelihood of the first multi-unit large-scale new build reactor program in decades at Bruce Power (Bruce ‘C’), Atkins-Realis’ Monarch reactor and Westinghouse’s AP-1000 reactor offer very exciting prospects for economic development and investment opportunities for the domestic nuclear power generation sector and affected communities

Canada has become a global leader in the investment and advancement of medical isotope production—both Bruce Power and OPG have been irradiating Cobalt 60 (C60) for years that is used in the sterilization of medical devices, but more recently, Bruce Power is the first operating large scale power reactor that has also installed a first-of-its-kind system to irradiate material used to produce Lutecium 177 (Lu-177) with ITM—a critical isotope used to treat prostate cancer.  Additionally, OPG has installed a similar system to irradiate Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) in conjunction with BWXT Medical—another key isotope used in nuclear medicine to diagnose cancer and other ailments.  In addition to these ‘foundational’ innovations using large scale CANDU nuclear power reactors to irradiate materials used to produce life-saving medical isotopes, we’re seeing tremendous advancements and investments into other major developments like Actinium-225 (Ac-225)—all of these developments not only facilitate life-changing access to medical isotopes which will enable the ability to literally save thousands of lives, but also drive additional economic prosperity and the increased establishment of a rapidly growing, lucrative Canadian-based indsutry.