Nuclear power in Canada

As of 2009, about 15% of Canada's electricity is produced by nuclear power.

History

The nuclear industry (as distinct from the uranium industry) in Canada dates back to 1942 when a joint British-Canadian laboratory, the Montreal Laboratory, was set up in Montreal, Quebec, under the administration of the National Research Council of Canada, to develop a design for a heavy-water nuclear reactor. This reactor was called National Research Experimental and would be the most powerful research reactor in the world when completed. In the meantime, in 1944, approval was given to proceed with the construction of the smaller ZEEP (Zero Energy Experimental Pile) test reactor at Chalk River, Ontario and on September 5, 1945 at 3:45 p.m., the 10 Watt ZEEP successfully achieved the first self-sustained nuclear reaction outside the United States.

In 1946, the Montreal Laboratory was closed, and the work continued at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories. Building partly on the experimental data obtained from ZEEP, the National Research Experimental (NRX)—a natural uranium, heavy water moderated research reactor—started up on July 22, 1947. It operated for 43 years, producing radioisotopes, undertaking fuels and materials development work for CANDU reactors, and providing neutrons for physics experiments. It was eventually joined in 1957 by the larger 200 megawatt (MW) National Research Universal (NRU) reactor.

In 1952, the Canadian government formed AECL, a Crown corporation with the mandate to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy. A partnership was formed between AECL, Ontario Hydro and Canadian General Electric to build Canada's first nuclear power plant, called NPD for Nuclear Power Demonstration. The 20 MWe NPD started operation in 1962 and successfully demonstrated the unique concepts of on-power refuelling using natural uranium fuel, and heavy water moderator and coolant. These features formed the basis of a fleet of CANDU power reactors (CANDU is an acronym for CANada Deuterium Uranium) built and operated in Canada and elsewhere.

In the late 1960s (1967–1970), Canada also developed an experimental miniature nuclear reactor named SLOWPOKE (acronym for Safe Low-Power Kritical Experiment). The first prototype was built at Chalk River and many SLOWPOKEs were subsequently built, mainly for research. Many SLOWPOKEs are still in use in Canada; there is one running at École Polytechnique de Montréal, for instance.

Notable accidents

See also: Nuclear power accidents by country § Canada

Chalk River, 1952 and 1958

"A power surge and partial loss of coolant led to significant damage to the NRX reactor core in 1952. It was the world's first major nuclear reactor disaster, and it resulted in 4.5 tonnes of radioactive water collecting in the cellar of the building. In 1958, a fuel rupture in the reactor led to a fire and complete contamination of the NRU building. The military was called in both times to aid in the cleanup".

Pickering, 1974 and 1983

"The most serious nuclear accidents in Canada happened at the Pickering facility east of Toronto, in 1974 and in 1983. In each case, pressure tubes — which hold fuel rods — ruptured. Some coolant escaped, but was recovered before it left the plant, and there was no release of radioactive material from the containment building".

Darlington, 2009

In 2009, more than 200,000 litres of water containing trace amounts of tritium and hydrazine spilled into Lake Ontario after workers accidentally filled the wrong tank with tritiated water. The level of the isotope in the lake was not enough to pose harm to residents.

Point Lepreau, 2011

On December 13, 2011, there was a radioactive spill at New Brunswick's Point Lepreau nuclear generating station. Up to six litres of heavy water splashed to the floor, forcing an evacuation of the reactor building and halt of operations. Then, on December 14, NB Power issued a news release, admitting there had been another type of spill three weeks earlier. The head of Canada's Nuclear Safety Commission said the two spills are "unsettling".

Public opinion

According to a 2009 poll by Ipsos on behalf of the Canadian Nuclear Association, 43% of Canadians support nuclear power, compared with 53% that are against it. In terms of regions, Ontario is most in favour of nuclear power with support at 62%, while Quebec is the least with just 19%. 28% of those polled, said that their confidence in the Canadian nuclear industry had decreased in the 12 months to end August 2009. The main reasons for the worsened confidence were the medical isotope shortage (10%), issues surrounding Chalk River and AECL (10%) and safety concerns (9%).

Proposals

The Province of Ontario has announced plans to build a new nuclear station. The leading candidate is AECL's Advanced CANDU Reactor. Environmental assessments are currently underway for one site next to Bruce Power's Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Tiverton and another next to Ontario Power Generation's Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.

In December 2011, Bruce Power abandoned plans to build a nuclear power plant in northern Alberta. The company had proposed building up to four nuclear reactors that could produce 4,000 megawatts of electricity at a site 30 kilometres north of Peace River.

Safety following Fukushima

Following the 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has "ordered all reactor operators to revisit their safety plans and report on potential improvements" by the end of April.

Anti-nuclear movement

Main article: Anti-nuclear movement in Canada

Canada has an active anti-nuclear movement, which includes major campaigning organisations like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. Over 300 public interest groups across Canada have endorsed the mandate of the Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout (CNP). Some environmental organisations such as Energy Probe, the Pembina Institute and the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) are reported to have developed considerable expertise on nuclear power and energy issues. There is also a long-standing tradition of indigenous opposition to uranium mining.

The province of British Columbia firmly maintains a strict no-nuclear policy. The Crown corporation, BC Hydro, upholds this principal by "rejecting consideration of nuclear power in implementing B.C.'s clean energy strategy."

See also

• Electricity sector in Canada
• Nuclear industry in Canada
• List of nuclear reactors
• Canadian Nuclear Association
• Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
• Energy Alberta Corporation
• Pembina Institute
• Science and technology in Canada
• Nuclear power accidents by country

Further reading

• Steed, Roger G (2007), Nuclear Power in Canada and Beyond, General Store Pub. House, ISBN 978-1-897113-51-6 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthor= (help)
• Atomic Energy Canada, Limited (1997), Canada enters the nuclear age, McGill-Queen's University Press, ISBN 0-7735-1601-8 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthor= (help)

• Brian Buckley (2000). Canada's early nuclear policy: fate, chance and character. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-2077-6.
• G. Bruce Doern; Robert W. Morrison; Arslan Dorman (2001). Canadian nuclear energy policy: changing ideas, institutions, and interests. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-4788-5.
• Gordon, H. E. Sims (1990). The anti-nuclear game. University of Ottawa Press. ISBN 0-7766-0285-3.
• Gordon, H. E. Sims (1980). A history of the Atomic Energy Control Board. Canadian Govt Publishing Centre. ISBN 0-660-10812-7.

External links

• The Canadian Nuclear FAQ
• The Canadian Nuclear Society
• "Entering the Nuclear Age" (Legion Magazine, Sept/Oct 2003)
• "Economic Impact of the Nuclear Industry in Canada" (Canadian Energy Research Institute, 2003)
• "Nuclear Power in Canada: An Examination of Risks, Impacts and Sustainability" (Pembina Institute, 2006)
• "Where is my Electricity Coming From at this Hour? (if I lived in Ontario)" (Canadian Nuclear Society, with data from IESO)