A Review of the Capabilities and Gaps in Canada's Research Reactors for Facilitating the Development and Deployment of Small Modular Reactors

With an interest in reducing carbon emissions, Canada has committed to deploying a variety of small modular reactor (SMR) designs. This review covers Canada's research reactor capabilities relevant to SMR development and highlights gaps in these capabilities. Following the commissioning of the subcritical facility at Ontario Tech University, Canada's capabilities in reactor physics, education, and training will be relatively sufficient. In contrast, materials/fuel irradiation capabilities and neutron scattering techniques are insufficient, with a notable gap in in-reactor test loops needed to develop new fuels. Recommendations are made for a new multipurpose research reactor (MPRR) development and deployment of SMRs in the long term while increasing accessibility to Canada's existing research reactors in the near term, particularly in Western Canada.