AECL Nuclear Review “special issue” on small reactors now online

Renewed interest in small reactors in Canada and worldwide makes this issue timely and relevant. Small reactors are once again being seen as a viable, innovative solution for clean energy. This special issue delves into the many facets of this rapidly evolving technology and brings perspectives from communities of scholars and scientists from across Canada and across the globe. With a long history of small reactors and an understanding of the relevance of small reactor technology to today’s issues, particularly in Canada’s north, AECL continues to support the application of new nuclear technologies.

The collection of articles in this special issue of the AECL Nuclear Review showcases the revival of interest in small reactor technology in Canada and the rest of the world.

• Small Modular Reactors - A Solution for Canada’s North?, C. Waters and R. Didsbury
• Proliferation Resistance Considerations for Remote Small Modular Reactors, J. Whitlock and J. Sprinkle
• The Supersafe^(C) Reactor: A Small Modular Pressure Tube SCWR, M. Yetisir, J. Pencer, M. McDonald, M. Gaudet, J. Licht and R. Duffey
• Challenges of SMR Licensing Practices, K. Söderholm
• A Monte Carlo Method for Analyzing Mixed-Lattice Substitution Experiment Using MCNP, G.B. Wilkin, B.P. Bromley and D.G. Watts
• Monte Carlo Calculations Applied to SLOWPOKE Full-Reactor Analysis, T.S. Nguyen, G.B. Wilkin and J.E. Atfield
• Monte Carlo Calculations Applied to NRU Reactor and Radiation Physics Analyses, T.S. Nguyen and G.B. Wilkin
• The Status of HEU to LEU Core Conversion Activities at the Jamaica SLOWPOKE, J. Preston and C. Grant

With immediate challenges in economics, licensing, technology readiness, and public acceptance, there is still some work needed to address current needs and to drive SMR technology into the 21st century. We hope that the articles and technical notes in this issue provide some input into these challenges and inspire innovative solutions to enable small reactor technology as a viable, clean, safe and economical energy source for Canadians and the world.