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Energy

Will nuclear power plants help meet a potential explosion in Alberta’s electrical demand?

Editor’s note: The two questions that come to mind reading this are (1) is nuclear power safe, especially when the infrastructure starts to age? And (2) will most of the subsequent inspections and reporting be left to what industry chooses to disclose?

By George Lee, The Macleod Gazette, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nuclear reactors in your backyard — or down the road beside a humming new AI data centre — hold promise for rural Alberta, the legislature heard in advance of a Wednesday webinar on the subject.

The long-proven but advancing technology of unlocking the energy within atoms offers a safe and reliable option for Alberta’s power needs, a UCP member said last week.

“This is about building energy security, advancing innovation and life-saving treatments, and bolstering the industrial development that has made Alberta tick for the last seven decades,” said Chantelle de Jonge, MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore. “If we want to keep Alberta strong, growing and competitive, we must seriously consider the opportunity that nuclear energy presents to us today.”

Albertans have the chance to develop their own opinions as an expert advisory and engagement panel appointed by the province holds the second of three Zoom webinars Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Visit alberta.ca/nuclear-energy-engagement to register.

Early in the new year, on Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m., a third online seminar will cover nuclear safety and waste management.

De Jonge underlined her case by pointing to a worldwide, fast-growing demand for energy, a strained supply chain for the isotopes used in health care, a 60-year record of nuclear energy safety in Canada and the economic opportunity the technology represents, especially in the countryside.

She said: “Albertans know that reliable power isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. It forms the foundation of our economic strength and quality of life.

“Across Canada and around the world jurisdictions are grappling with challenges to maintain a reliable energy supply. These challenges are amplified by an unprecedented surge in demand, driven by economic growth and emerging technologies like AI data centres. To meet this reality, we must think bigger and plan smarter.

“This means embracing innovation and pursuing an all-of-the-above approach to energy.”

Nuclear energy can power homes and create opportunities by strengthening the provincial industrial base, especially in rural and remote communities, de Jonge said. Her picture includes new investment, high-tech careers in science and engineering, and support for medical innovation.

“For years our government has recognized this potential, and now it’s time to move from conversation to action,” she said.

According to the Alberta Energy System Operator, the industrial sector accounts for about 75 per cent of the province’s electricity usage. But other commercial users and households are often responsible for spikes during extreme cold and heat waves.

Summer and all-time demand records were broken last year, AESO reported. On July 22, 2024, demand spiked at 12,221 megawatts, slightly lower than the 12,384 MW draw on the grid that happened Jan. 11.

At about 23,000 MW, the total installed capacity in Alberta is more than double average load. But only about 15,000 MW is considered “firm” or available at will, and that doesn’t account for maintenance shutdowns or mechanical breakdowns.

AESO predicts peak demand could hit between 13,500 and 14,000 MW in five years and 14,800 and 16,500 MW in 10 years.

But those numbers could be on the low side, because they were modeled before a surge in AI data centre proposals before the government.

Future nuclear power likely would not be the exclusive realm of giant utilities feeding the grid. Dedicated plants built behind the fence at industrial sites, whether nuclear or fired by natural gas, are also envisioned by the government in its “bring your own power” model. These small plants would export excess power to the public grid.

Links of Interest:

Top photo credit: Premier Danielle Smith touring a proposed site – courtesy Energy Alberta. The accompanying text starts out, “The federal government has pledged to triple Canada’s nuclear capacity to help meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050. This shift toward nuclear energy stems from the fact that nuclear power is the only readily scalable, low-emission energy source capable of delivering reliable and affordable electricity around the clock.”

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