Fuel Supply and Fabrication Needs, Issues, Options, and Advanced Concepts for Boiling Water Reactor-Small Modular Reactors in Canada

Abstract Nuclear fuel cycles and fuel fabrication for the new reactors under development and/or deployment need to be developed and established either in Canada or via international agreements. This study is focused on assessing fuel supply and fuel manufacturing needs for a 300-MWe-class boiling water reactor small modular reactor (BWR-SMR), which is nominally similar to the 300-MWe boiling water reactor small modular reactor under development by General Electric Hitachi (BWRX-300). The BWRX-300, under development by General Electric Hitachi (GEH), is of interest for deployment with Ontario power generation (OPG), and potentially other utilities in Canada, such as Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower). Existing Canadian infrastructure capabilities and technical gaps on manufacturing and developing fuels required for a BWR-SMR are assessed and explored. Fuel fabrication methods for a BWR-SMR are similar to those used for pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and pressure tube heavy water reactors (PT-HWRs), with the metal-clad oxide fuels. The facilities and infrastructure for producing PT-HWR fuel are well developed and mature in Canada. Future evolutionary improvements to BWR-SMR fuel could potentially involve the use of uranium oxide and other uranium compounds or mixtures, and annular-type fuel pellets to enhance thermal conductivity and reduce peak fuel temperatures. The enriched uranium for BWR-SMRs in Canada will be obtained in the short-term from Urenco USA and the Orano Group. However, the establishment of Canadian uranium enrichment facilities and enriched uranium fuel supply chain is feasible and could be pursued in the middle and long-terms.