SaskPower make agreement for SMR development planning

Assignment Task

Should SaskPower pursue the use of SMRs? Do some research and provide your analysis of the main reasons why or why not? In your analysis compare and contrast advantages and disadvantages of SMRs in Saskatchewan and make a conclusion."

Preamble: ARE SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (SMRs) A GOOD SOLUTION FOR SASKATCHEWAN TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS?
The federal government has passed laws that require electricity utilities to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next several years.

SaskPower produces or contracts for the production of almost all electricity in Saskatchewan. SaskPower relies heavily on coal and natural gas-fired electricity generation. This has been a good choice historically, since both have been plentiful and relatively low cost. This has helped to keep prices lower for SaskPower’s customers. This is especially important, given that Saskatchewan’s large area and low population density makes the province a high-cost service territory (relatively few customers per kilometre of transmission lines). Also, unlike Quebec, BC, and Manitoba, Saskatchewan doesn’t large river systems that allow for extensive use of clean hydro- electricity generation. SaskPower must now rapidly shift away from coal and natural gas to other sources of generation that have lower CO2 emissions. Wind and solar are options but are not without their problems. Both are “intermittent”- the wind doesn’t always blow, and solar only works in daylight hours with sunshine. To mitigate this issue, utilities use other generation sources that are reliable in all conditions, referred to as “base load” generation.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) produce nuclear electricity using uranium for fuel. Nuclear energy is considered to be zero emission, and is reliable, making it a source of much base load generation. However, it is new technology with attendant risks and SMRs are expensive to build. They require extensive regulatory approvals, a process that can take 8-10 years, and used uranium fuel continues to be radioactive for decades after it can no longer be used and must be safely stored.
Critics of SaskPower’s investigation into SMRs assert that they are not needed, and instead, wind and solar can be the sole solution for reducing CO2 emissions to meet federal government requirements.

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