News

U-Battery Canada engaging the next generation of nuclear energy leaders

19 November 2018

U-Battery Canada Team Lead, Sean Donnelly, recently delivered a presentation on U-Battery to the Durham chapter of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN). Established in 1999, NAYGN is a global hub for emerging leaders in the nuclear energy sector. It provides professional development, skills training, capacity building, recruiting and networking opportunities for the next generation of nuclear leaders. Today, there are more than 16,000 members in North America, who represent a diverse cross-section of the nuclear science and technology community.

Sean provided the NAYGN Durham Chapter an in-depth look at the U-Battery model, including an overview of the technology and plant design, current and future global market opportunities, and how the U-Battery platform has the potential to help improve the quality of life of Canadians, and others around the world, by providing affordable, dispatchable, clean energy (heat and power).

Matthew Mairinger, NAYGN Canadian Affairs Chair said:

“You can see the excitement the younger generation has for SMRs, as we actually ran out of seating space for this lunch and learn. Our members were impressed with the safeguards, design (especially the TRISO fuel), and inherent safety features of U-Battery. I’m just one of many who is excited for the future in which U-Battery and other SMRs can play a role in reducing emissions, addressing energy poverty, and further establishing Canada as a leader in nuclear innovation.”

The presentation took place at Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering Nuclear Generating Station Information Centre in Ontario, Canada. Pickering Nuclear is one of the world’s largest nuclear generating stations, and has six CANDU^® (CANadian Deuterium Uranium) reactors. The station has a total output of 3,100 megawatts (MW), enough to serve a city of one and a half million people, and about 14 per cent of Ontario’s electricity needs.

U-Battery Canada Limited was established in early 2018 to advance the development of U-Battery’s 10 MWt/4MWe high-temperature gas micro-modular reactor in Canada. This project will provide a clean, cost-effective and safe source of electricity and heat for remote sites and off-grid locations in Canada.