Indigenous communities are increasingly playing an active role in Ontario’s energy sector in the areas of conservation, generation and new, major transmission projects.

We’re at a pivotal point in the evolution of Ontario’s power system. One critical aspect of this transformation is the growing role played by Indigenous communities and organizations in the energy space. Now more than ever before, many Indigenous leaders across Ontario are pursuing projects that support greater energy independence and provide new opportunities.

By developing generation and storage systems, becoming equity partners and leaders in major infrastructure projects, prioritizing energy efficiency as a way to reduce their carbon footprint, and engaging in important conversations about system planning, Indigenous communities are seeking greater autonomy and becoming catalysts for change.

Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is supporting these leaders on their respective energy journeys. Through a variety of different programs and initiatives, we’ve spent more than a decade working with Indigenous communities and organizations to build local energy capacity, including skills and connections.

While there’s still work to be done, developing Indigenous capacity is an important step towards a longer-term goal of achieving fair, equitable and inclusive participation in the energy sector. Ontario is already witnessing the rapid growth of Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-led projects and initiatives in a number of areas, often with funding from the IESO’s Energy Support Programs (ESPs).

While there’s still work to be done, developing Indigenous capacity is an important step towards a longer-term goal of achieving fair, equitable and inclusive participation in the energy sector.

Indigenous energy leadership can be found across Ontario, but one initiative that stands out is the Wataynikaneyap Power Project. Through an innovative partnership between 24 First Nations, Fortis Inc. and other private investors, this multi-year initiative will connect 17 remote communities in northern Ontario to Ontario’s high-voltage transmission system.

To date, more than 20 unique communities and organizations that are part of this project have received over $5.7 million in ESP funding in the areas of energy planning, capacity building and project development, among others.

This landmark project, whose name translates as “line that brings light,” is scheduled for completion by mid-2024. Communities are starting to be connected to the grid, and the project is already creating employment and development opportunities while improving the communities’ environmental performance.

In another example, Fort Severn First Nation — the most northern community in Ontario — powered up a 300-kilowatt solar energy system late last fall. This array is expected to significantly reduce the community’s diesel consumption and deliver more than $300,000 in annual energy savings, which will be used to build much-needed housing.

In addition to delivering economic and environmental benefits, this project has also created well-paying jobs in the community. Going forward, residents hope to build on the progress made to date by installing solar panels on other band-owned buildings and developing wind generation.

Developing the energy leaders of today and tomorrow is an important aspect of this work and a vital contributor to long-term success. In partnership with Opiikapawiin Services LP and Relay Education, we will launch the Plugged In to a Brighter Future program this year. This program will provide hands-on training to youth in Wataynikaneyap owner communities with the goal of building their energy knowledge and developing their skills for future employment in the energy sector or a related field.

A reliable supply of electricity can power opportunities. Indigenous leadership is an essential component of Ontario’s clean energy transition — and the momentum for change continues to build, delivering valuable results for communities and for the province as a whole.

The post Powering Progress: Why Indigenous Energy Leadership in Ontario Matters appeared first on HiveInnovates.

As Canada electrifies its economy, solar is ready to rapidly transform underutilized spaces into distributed energy infrastructure.

Globally, solar power provides the lowest cost of energy in history. It is a mature, commercialized technology that is available today – no future breakthroughs or government grants required. Electrification is inevitable. Now is the time to elevate our clean energy standards in Canada. Solar is ready.

For businesses, solar is an opportunity to further monetize existing development assets. Solar is also a visible way to demonstrate corporate social responsibility and connect with clientele who share their sustainable values. Most investments in technology are deflationary. Solar is bankable. With a lifetime far longer than its return on investment, today’s solar drives the net cost of energy down, providing energy rates that are lower now, and for the next 30 years.

Solar power is highly adaptable, easily integrating into developed spaces. Unlike the construction of new centralized power plants, solar is rapidly installed anywhere, at any scale. As a distributed energy resource (DER), solar avoids the expense of long-distance transmission, producing electricity where it is needed. This decentralization of energy not only stabilizes energy costs, it minimizes urban sprawl by maximizing our use of space.

Solar transforms our cities

There is an abundance of urban space that is not being used to its full potential. Rooftops and parking lots are underutilized and can be made productive. Solar transforms them into distributed power plants. By empowering us to rethink how and where we generate electricity, solar is an essential ingredient in the energy mix for a cleaner, electrified future.

Rooftop solar installations built on existing structures have already enabled early adopters to generate up to 100 percent of their electricity and beyond, with many exporting surplus energy to the grid.

Solar canopies that cover parking lots provide benefits that go beyond power generation. They provide shelter from inclement weather, shade in summer, and snow cover in winter. It is infrastructure at human scale that enhances the urban experience.

Achieving Canada’s energy transition

In Canada, renewables generate 70 percent of our electricity. They are already major sources of our energy. Despite advancements in energy efficiency, our energy demand continues to grow, doubling in only 40 years. Distributed solar is one pillar in closing the gap to complete our energy transition, powering the electrification of transportation and heating.

Installing solar into urban spaces enables an agile, bottom-up response to transforming our energy infrastructure. Solar empowers communities and businesses to act now to fight climate change, drive down their long-term energy costs, and supply local economic returns. It is a new form of infrastructure that addresses rising capital costs and operating expenses.

Solar has the power to transform.

Innovative design

At VCT Group, we develop innovative solar products that productively transform space.

The post Clean Energy: Solar’s Power to Transform appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Corporate decarbonization can be a long and complicated process, but Amp helps its clients become leaders in the push to net-zero.

The transition to a low-carbon global economy is increasing the corporate demand for power purchase agreements (PPAs) as organizations seek to reduce emissions and secure their long-term energy costs. As one of Canada’s leading renewable energy developers, Amp’s vision and technological innovations are reshaping traditional sustainability strategies and helping corporations realize their clean energy future.

Forging a new era in Canadian renewables

Steve Schaefer has been with Amp since its inception in 2009 and now serves as Senior Vice President of Origination and Head of Canadian Operations. Schaefer and his team have developed over 130MW of renewable energy across over 550 projects, primarily in the form of feed-in tariff contracts supplied by solar and, more recently, hybrid solar plus battery storage assets.

“The genesis of our commercial and industrial (C&I) strategy is to solve the challenges associated with C&I clients achieving their environmental sustainability targets by providing the most beneficial solutions,” says Schaefer. “This is why Amp is now a top-tier PPA provider globally.”

With decarbonization being new territory for many C&I organizations, Amp’s initial role focuses primarily on education, data collection, and strategic planning.

“More and more C&I organizations are making ambitious net-zero commitments, but they don’t always know where to start,” says Schaefer. “That’s exactly where we come in.”

A holistic approach to decarbonization

Amp has evolved from supplying clean energy solutions to complete decarbonization strategies. In the increasingly competitive renewable energy sector, one of Amp’s key differentiators is its holistic approach to C&I energy transitions.

“Many organizations have taken small steps in the decarbonization space to date, but have now either generated their own net-zero target or had one imposed upon them,” says Schaefer. “Decarbonization doesn’t rely on one single pillar. The only way to reach these goals is through a holistic approach.”

Amp’s unique approach will include combining renewable generation with battery storage and its proprietary digital energy platform, Amp X. “We’re now integrating and unifying real asset development with Amp X, combining supply and demand through a digital platform with a single optimization engine,” says Schaefer. “We will be taking all the energy nodes, whether they’re consumption, generation, or both combined with storage, and providing the unique capability to optimize behind the meter.”

Unlocking energy flexibility with Amp X

The development and evolution of Amp X has been a revelation in the integrated energy solutions space. Working in conjunction with renewable energy and storage assets, Amp X is designed to unlock new levels of optimization and flexibility, enabling C&I customers to potentially generate new revenue streams via participation in energy markets.

Amp is also rapidly establishing itself as a global leader in the energy storage space, with an expanding portfolio of standalone assets and hybridized systems pairing batteries with solar or wind. In addition to extending the penetration of renewable generation, energy storage is emerging as an effective way to reduce peak energy demand.

Amid the rapid progress of Canada’s C&I decarbonization efforts, Schaefer is excited by the scale of the opportunities that lie ahead. “It’s breathtaking to see how many organizations are making that net-zero pledge, and my team and I are excited to support our C&I partners in achieving this vision,” he says.

The post Enabling Commercial and Industrial Decarbonization with Amp appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Mediaplanet spoke with Lisa McBride of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy about the industry’s impact and opportunities, including for women.

Why is Canada’s nuclear energy industry more important than ever right now?

Nuclear energy is clean, safe, and reliable energy that’s helping us to meet our net-zero goals, and there’s no way that we can get to net-zero without nuclear energy. To me, getting to net-zero is about leveraging all types of clean energy generation to meet these decarbonization goals, and that includes nuclear.

What advice can you offer to women looking to pursue a career in the nuclear industry?

The nuclear industry is innovative, dynamic, and exciting, and there are opportunities in almost everything to do with nuclear. This industry needs all voices — it needs diversity and women in order to leverage what diversity truly means to a business. I would really like women to know that there are a lot of growth opportunities and different career opportunities in this industry, and that if they apply themselves, the sky is the limit.

Aside from the benefits of clean energy, how is Canada’s nuclear industry making a major contribution to our economy and society?

In Canada, we have the full fuel cycle — everything from mining to nuclear energy to research and development in waste and decommissioning. If we look at the full value proposition of nuclear, we employ more than 76,000 people in this industry. We make a major contribution to the economy — our impact is $17 billion a year to the Canadian GDP from the nuclear energy industry. Not to mention the valuable contribution from medical isotope production, which saves lives every single day.

What actions should Canada focus on to increase diversity in the nuclear energy industry?

We need to focus on highlighting the opportunities in STEM and the role of nuclear energy for young women within the education system. If we look at the talent pipeline, we need to start much earlier, and we need more women interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and nuclear. We need to encourage more women in engineering and similar disciplines so that the labour market availability supports gender parity. We don’t have enough women in STEM and nuclear-related professions to really have the balance we need.

From an industry perspective, we need to think about how to make sure that we represent a diverse industry so role models are visible and the future workforce so everyone can imagine themselves in these roles. As an industry, we need to make sure that we reflect the opportunities that exist for all voices at the table.

How is Women in Nuclear Canada promoting career interest in nuclear-related professions, especially among women and young people?

We profile the role that women have in the industry, which relates to my earlier comments on role models. Women in Nuclear Canada is revamping and relaunching our Speakers’ Clearinghouse, which is an opportunity for our members to speak within the education system at schools and at conferences, to profile the role women play and the opportunities that exist. We work with other organizations (including Skills Canada and Skills Ontario) to promote interest. It’s not just STEM — it’s skilled trades as well. There are lots of professional opportunities in the industry.

We also have an education outreach program that’s currently being restructured so that we will be ready to launch in 2022.  This will provide the opportunity to educate students on the role of nuclear energy in the energy transition and reflect opportunities for women in nuclear.

The post Nuclear’s Impact and Opportunities: Q&A with Industry Vet Lisa McBride appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Mediaplanet chatted with Darryl Spector, President of Promation, about Canada’s world-leading nuclear industry, its recent innovations, and where it’s headed.

Why is nuclear energy necessary to help us combat climate change?  

There simply is no path to net zero without nuclear. Although it’s true that other green technologies, such as energy from other generation sources such as wind, solar, tidal, and so on, are evolving rapidly and that their costs are dropping as the technology and supply chain evolves, it’s not there yet and is still decades away from being pervasive enough to displace the existing carbon-based baseload energy supply options around the world. Nuclear is still — and will likely remain so for many years to come — the only reliable, large-scale, low-carbon pervasive baseload energy supply option. This fact is understood and echoed by the majority of the world’s leading climate scientists and stakeholders.

How is Canada ensuring that nuclear power is a safe means of generating electricity? 

Canada’s nuclear industry enjoys a world-leading safety record, thanks in part to operating under one of the most rigorous and globally-respected regulatory agencies and frameworks, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The CNSC mandates and monitors an extremely regimented threshold of compliance standards that all Canadian nuclear operators must comply with on a routine basis. The CNSC operates as a federally-regulated agency, and as such, operates at an arm’s length from the nuclear industry to provide reliable oversight, much like the agencies that oversee safety and quality compliance for the aerospace or automotive sector, or for the elevators that we use every day.  

In addition, the Canadian nuclear industry operates on the clear principles of safety first — without question — and has established an extremely robust safety and compliance culture that models the best-in-class behaviours and practices from around the world through organizations such as the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), amongst which Canada repeatedly ranks amongst the top.

What emerging trends and innovations in Canada’s nuclear industry are you most excited about? 

The immediate one that comes to mind — and likely the least appreciated but the most relevant to the everyday public — is the profound advancements in the area of nuclear medicine. Canada is quickly becoming a global leader in the adoption and large scale-up production of critical, life-saving radiopharmaceutical medical isotopes for both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits. Cobalt-60 (⁶⁰Co) for example, has been produced in Canadian nuclear utility reactors for decades, yet this isn’t well-known, and over 40 percent of the world’s single-use medical devices have been sterilized using ⁶⁰Co produced in Canadian reactors! More recently, we’ve made huge advancements in Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) and Molybdenum-99 (Moly-99), allowing their production to be scaled up substantially at an industrial level that will elevate Canada’s role as a world-leading major global exporter of these life-saving medicines. This will directly result in saving thousands of lives that we would’ve otherwise lost to prostate cancer (Lu-177) or heart disease (Moly-99). These deaths can be avoided by amazing advances in treatment and early detection.

The other one that people may be more aware of is the advancements in the area of small modular reactors (SMRs), which have been around for decades in research reactors, or more commonly in nuclear-powered submarines. In the past decade, we’ve seen exponential advancements in the development of commercially-viable and scalable deployment cases for SMRs around the world. Additionally, Canada’s licensing framework to enable the development of a prudent and rigorous framework is seen globally as being industry-leading, which has attracted the focus of many internationally-based SMR players, in addition to homegrown initiatives. Again, many leading climate scientists and political policy leaders acknowledge the critical role that SMRs will play in the climate solution in the coming years and decades.

Where do you see Canada’s nuclear energy industry headed? 

Canada’s nuclear energy industry will continue to play a foundational role in providing low-cost, reliable, clean, and low-carbon baseload power for decades as the major sites at Bruce Power in Kincardine, Ont., as well as at Ontario Power Generation in Darlington continue through their unprecedented asset life-extension programs. In addition, the advances that the Canadian nuclear energy industry has made in embracing, enabling, and leading the large scale-up will help to change the face of diagnostics and the treatment of historically chronic and pervasive conditions around the world. Finally, as a global leader in enabling the advancement of SMRs, Canada is well-poised to facilitate the influence that large-scale SMRs will have on providing reliable solutions to satisfy evolving, unique, and scalable energy supply needs to ensure we achieve our climate targets while satisfying our ever-growing energy consumption needs — which is even more relevant as we continue to electrify our grids and transportation fleets.

What recent achievements in the nuclear space should Canada be proud of? 

Canada is an admired and respected player on the global stage amongst every major jurisdiction in terms of our culture, safety record, performance record, technology adoption, and workforce. Leaders from the Canadian nuclear industry are in demand and are often sought after for international positions in the field. Additionally, our fleet of nuclear reactors continues to achieve world-leading performance records, and we boast the world’s largest operating nuclear utility site at Bruce Power.

The life-extension programs currently underway at Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation are the largest green infrastructure projects in the nation, and we’re quickly becoming a global leader and champion in the medical isotope space. We need to take far more credit for our amazing accomplishments, but we don’t to the degree that we should. And what is more Canadian than that? Steady, reliable, respected, and modest — it’s the Canadian way!

The post Future of Nuclear: Q&A with Nuclear Expert Darryl Spector appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Mediaplanet spoke with Tracy Primeau about the opportunities in Canada’s nuclear industry, working with Indigenous communities, and more.

What initially sparked your interest in the nuclear industry? 

I grew up in the town of Tiverton, Ont., which is where the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station is situated and where my father started working in 1971 as a mechanic. I had zero desire to work in the nuclear industry, although I was always good at math and science. I had a dream of being a high school history teacher. I was fortunate enough to try working with high school students and decided that it wasn’t for me and I took the tests for the nuclear operator job, passed them and was given an offer .

So, I ended up having a different dream that someday I wanted to work in the control room and be an authorized nuclear operator. My father had encouraged me to apply to operations and the combination of family influence and a love of science drove this decision. I sort of ended up being a teacher anyway, teaching operators and shift supervisors, and it ended up becoming a big part of my job. To this day, I’m still taking on a mentor and teacher role, which I absolutely love.

What is a challenge in your career that you’ve faced as a woman and how did you overcome it?

Women weren’t allowed to work in nuclear plants until the 1980s. I worked with an authorized nuclear operator who refused to have women on his unit and a shift manager who refused to have women on his crew.

At the time, I was married and didn’t have kids yet. I could out-swear anybody and was very much one of the guys. I grew up in Bruce County, so I could hold my beer and talk hockey as well. That worked for me until I got pregnant with my first child, and all of a sudden they realized that I wasn’t one of the guys and they started to treat me differently. I also realized that I was trying to hard to “fit in” ­— I was who I was, and everyone was going to have to deal with it.

I was the first woman to ever enter the control room as an authorized nuclear operator at the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station. When I got there, I brought some colour — my work boots were pink, my nails were always done, and I had a little heel in my boot. I came to the understanding that there’s no fitting in, you can only be yourself. As long as you have integrity and you remain true to yourself, you’ll be fine. Not only will you be happier, but you’ll be more respected. As I moved into the Shift Manager and other leadership roles, this continued to be my anchor.

Why do you think it’s important to encourage young women to get involved in Canada’s nuclear industry?

There’s a nuclear renaissance happening — we have small modular reactors and new isotopes being developed, and the technology itself is growing by leaps and bounds. There are job opportunities not just in Ontario and New Brunswick anymore, but Canada-wide and globally.

The opportunities are great and there’s a shortage of workers. Do you want to go into nuclear engineering, health physics, or radiation physics, or do you want to be an electrician or a carpenter? There are opportunities for every single one of those in multiple places. Aside from the abundance of opportunities, these are well-paying jobs and the opportunities for promotion are great in the nuclear world.

Finally, it’s important work for the future of our planet. If you want your work to be meaningful, and I think most people do, it’s not just about a paycheque. You’re coming into an industry that’s fighting climate change. You’re doing something that means something to the world.

How can leaders in Canada’s nuclear energy industry respect and advance reconciliation with Indigenous communities?

In my opinion, economic reconciliation is where we make the biggest difference. Additionally, collaborating and partnering with a First Nations community where everyone is committed and everyone benefits is another great way to work on reconciliation. A subset of collaboration is employment. Set a target or create a program where you aim to hire a certain percentage of Indigenous employees by a certain time.

This should be embedded in every part of your company — it can’t just be the Indigenous Relations or HR team that’s thinking about this. Collaborating with Indigenous communities should be on your mind in everything you do. Indigenous people are bringing knowledge to every conversation, especially around climate change, that you may not have thought of because you didn’t come from the same background as they did.

In your opinion, do you think that we can get to net zero without nuclear? 

Someday, maybe, but not by 2050. Net zero needs baseload, and there’s no better baseload that doesn’t emit CO2 than nuclear, except for hydroelectric. But we’re running out of water — we don’t have lots of undiscovered dams, and climate change is going to affect hydroelectric more and more, whether the water is low or high. With nuclear, we can build the baseload and we know exactly how many megawatts it’ll put on the grid all the time. Does it need to work with wind, solar, and other renewables? Absolutely. But these renewables come and go with the weather. We can store some of it, but not enough to get to net zero by 2050. This simply isn’t possible without nuclear.

The post Q&A with Industry Icon Tracy Primeau on Mentorship and Opportunities in Nuclear appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Martin Porter

Secretary General, World Nuclear Transport Institute

Since its formation in 1998, the World Nuclear Transport Institute has developed practices to safely, securely, reliably, and efficiently transport radioactive materials.

“Recently, the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) scope has broadened to have demonstrable alignment to sustainability. New and novel work in support of transportable nuclear power plants, with their various applications, clearly shows WNTI members’ commitment to contribute to the nuclear industry goal of being central to a net-zero carbon future,” says Martin Porter, Secretary General at the WNTI.

The 2050 net-zero emissions target cannot be met without nuclear power. Transportable nuclear power plants, including those being developed by WNTI members, will be an essential element in providing green energy to all communities.

The nuclear renaissance

Traditionally, large-scale nuclear sites with high-capacity nuclear plants have been used to generate electricity for national networks. While this ensures a source of power to large populations, it also means that remote regions cannot be served unless hundreds of miles of power cables are installed. Often, these remote locations use fossil fuels to generate power.

There’s a need for smaller-scale nuclear plants that can serve remote regions or specific industrial applications, and the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) is now gaining pace.

Rapid deployment and disaster relief

SMRs can be factory-built, using modular designs and production lines, thus reducing costs. Delivered to the site of operation, more modules can be added to meet future energy demands.

Some SMRs are delivered in a turnkey state, meaning that they’re ready for immediate use.

SMRs have many applications, including:

1. Electricity generation
2. Production of green hydrogen
3. Heating for communities
4. Industrial heating for steel, paper, and cement production
5. Desalination of sea water to produce clean drinking water

SMRs are also well-suited to provide humanitarian aid and relief when a region is hit by a disaster. A containerized SMR can be rapidly transported to restore electricity, fresh drinking water, and heating.

Building on strong foundations

Different types of nuclear technologies are used in SMR designs. Some use modern developments of pressurized water reactors (PWRs), while others use alternate nuclear technologies such as molten salt reactors (MSRs).

PWRs have been used for many years, both for large-scale energy generation and for propulsion in naval vessels. This technology has high levels of safety-engineered into the plant to guarantee its safe operation.

MSRs incorporate safety by design. This means that the reactor will always return itself to a safe state should there be a problem. These designs cannot meltdown as the already-molten nuclear material inside will simply solidify if the reactor encounters a problem. By failing into a safe mode, all the radioactive material is locked into a solid, rock-like state.

Green energy — using less space and no waste

Unlike solar and wind power, SMRs don’t need much space. They can also be sited on floating platforms, thus further reducing the amount of land needed for the site. This makes them ideal for small island states where there’s a growing demand for sustainable, green energy.

Transporting and operating SMRs — security by design

The material in an MSR cannot be used to cause a nuclear explosion. It’s a different material from that used in nuclear weapons. Add to this all the physical barriers and safeguards that are built into the designs of all SMRs and the risks are reduced to a safe, manageable level. Throughout the lifecycle of an SMR, from initial construction until decommissioning and recycling, there are always sufficient safeguards in place.

The transportation of SMRs does pose some new challenges. Secure routes need to be established to ensure that the threats from terrorists are carefully mitigated. Weather routing and avoiding other navigational hazards must be incorporated into passage plans. It’s also vital to engage with the governments and populations of coastal communities to reassure them. The WNTI can support and inform such dialogue.

The post Delivering Nuclear Power to Achieve a Sustainable Environment appeared first on HiveInnovates.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is taking an innovative, industry-leading approach to the safe, long-term management of nuclear waste.

Nuclear fuel has powered Canadian communities for decades. As a low-carbon energy source, it’s increasingly being sought by governments to help fight climate change — the Government of Canada has made it clear that there’s no credible path to net-zero energy by 2050 without nuclear in the mix.

Yet whenever the topic of nuclear comes up, someone inevitably asks about the “problem” of waste. The reality is that all energy sources create waste. Fossil fuels enter the atmosphere and industrial waste goes to landfill. In fact, nuclear is the only energy industry that manages its waste throughout its entire lifecycle.

While once thought of as a barrier, today managing that waste is an industry success story. Nuclear waste is safely stored now and there’s international scientific consensus about how to safely manage it over the very long term.

Canada’s plan solves the problem today, instead of passing it on to future generations.

Investing in our future

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is responsible for implementing Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel. Headed by Laurie Swami, one of only three women CEOs in the Canadian nuclear industry, the NWMO is planning to build a deep geological repository that uses a series of engineered and natural barriers to contain and isolate used nuclear fuel. While used nuclear fuel is currently being safely stored at above-ground facilities, this approach is widely recognized as being inappropriate over the long term.

“Canada’s plan solves the problem today, instead of passing it on to future generations,” says Swami. “This is one of the key priorities we hear from Canadians and Indigenous peoples when seeking input on our work.”

Canada’s plan represents a $26-billion environmental infrastructure project over its 150-year lifecycle. That means investments across the country, including significant contributions in the siting areas, as well as many high-value jobs in the short term and into the next century.

A progressive approach to partnership

One of the NWMO’s key commitments is that it will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement Canada’s plan.

“We’ve only worked in regions where a community voluntarily expressed interest in exploring their potential to host the project,” says Swami. “Twenty-two communities raised their hands. It was nothing short of extraordinary.”

Through progressive social and technical studies, that list was narrowed down to the Ignace area and South Bruce, both in Ontario. The NWMO expects to select a site in 2023. By actively collaborating with local leaders and interested citizens, the NWMO is taking an industry-leading, consent-based approach to exploring partnerships and willingness.

Building a foundation of respect

Innovation is truly at the core of the NWMO’s work. The organization is using best-in-class environmental practices and Indigenous knowledge to ensure that the project protects people and the environment, essentially indefinitely. And by interweaving cutting-edge western science with Indigenous knowledge, the project is setting new standards for research, community engagement, and Indigenous collaboration.

“Listening to Indigenous peoples has always been key to our work, and in 2019 we took an important step forward by formalizing our reconciliation policy,” says Swami.

That meant developing an annual implementation plan to measure and publicly report on its reconciliation journey, which is building a foundation of recognition and respect through ongoing educational opportunities. The NWMO continues to travel this path with Indigenous peoples, with strong guidance from a Council of Elders and Youth.

Now, based on its experience implementing Canada’s plan, the NWMO has been asked by the federal government to develop an integrated strategy that addresses any remaining gaps in plans for other radioactive waste streams — specifically, some of Canada’s low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. While this waste is all safely managed today, some of it still requires plans for the very long term.

The NWMO is breaking new ground, both figuratively and literally, and playing a vital role in environmental stewardship. It’s exciting to see such a world-leading example right here in Canada.

The post An Innovative and Collaborative Approach to Dealing with Nuclear Waste appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Innovation and leadership in the nuclear sector from companies like Hatch are fuelling hope for a carbon-free future.

One of the biggest problems our planet is facing today is climate change. Canada’s government has committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, and we’re steadily transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Fuelling this shift is the energy industry, and nuclear energy is leading the way.

We’ve all heard that nuclear energy is a sustainable, reliable, and clean energy source, but what is it, exactly? “We use the natural aspects and properties of uranium,” explains Amar Jolly, a professional engineer and Global Director of Nuclear at Hatch, a global engineering, project management, and professional services firm headquartered in Mississauga, Ont. “We know from physics that if you put uranium in a certain configuration, it produces heat. We exploit that property to extract energy.”

Nuclear is a highly creative way of producing energy. It’s also extremely efficient. “The energy density of uranium is incredible,” says Jolly. “A 20-gram pellet of uranium is equivalent to 400 kilograms of coal or 400 litres of oil.”

As global energy consumption continues to increase, a sustainable energy mix is the only solution.

Creating clean energy for the future

Hatch’s expertise spans all facets of the nuclear industry. From uranium mining and processing, fuel fabrication, and operational support of existing facilities; to new nuclear builds and the development of emerging technologies and innovative solutions for things like nuclear waste management and long-term storage. The company is proud to be known as nuclear experts leading the way in innovation in Canada and abroad.

“Nuclear aligns with our values,” says Jolly. “We’re very much committed to a sustainable future and to making the world a better place via positive change.”

Hatch is also a leader in partnering to develop, license, and implement small modular reactors (SMRs) ­— an emerging class of nuclear reactors designed to be built in smaller modules that produce less power than a conventional nuclear power plant. Their mass production makes them more economical, and their smaller size helps bring nuclear power to remote and isolated communities, industrial applications, and as a replacement for carbon-intensive forms of energy generation.

Embracing nuclear sustainability

Nuclear is a sustainable option when it comes to power generation, and the team at Hatch believes it should be a go-to as we move forward to a cleaner, greener future.

“As global energy consumption continues to increase, a sustainable energy mix is the only solution,” says Jolly. “That is, new nuclear fission and fusion reactors complemented by other clean sources of energy.”

Nuclear provides clean, reliable, baseload power — meaning it can run all the time. And the deployment of the flexible new SMRs extends the possibilities of nuclear immensely. Nuclear operations account for and safely manage all of their components, fuel, spent fuel, and by-products. Emerging technologies can utilize spent fuel for further energy extraction. “It’s a closed loop, which lends itself to true sustainability,” says Jolly.

“Canada is at the forefront of leading the transition to a low-carbon world with nuclear,” adds Jolly. “We need everybody’s support and involvement to stay in the lead.”

The post Creating a Cleaner and Greener Future with the Power of Nuclear Energy appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Steve Rakidzioski

Business Development Specialist, RNG

As decisions are weighed over longer-term climate plans, here’s why leaders are choosing renewable natural gas (RNG) as an immediate, cost-effective solutions to reduce Ontario’s emissions

Climate change is imminent, and decisive action is needed on the
best path forward. For governments and business leaders, it’s a complex issue: many solutions require significant cost investment, new infrastructure, or decades to effectively transition. As decisions are weighed over longer-term plans, here’s why leaders are choosing renewable natural gas (RNG) as an immediate, cost-effective solution to reduce Ontario’s emissions.

A pragmatic solution to a tough problem

To step up climate action quickly and affordably, RNG is among the most pragmatic of approaches. More than a third* of the food produced and distributed in the country gets discarded. RNG is produced from organic waste, so that uneaten potato salad or apple core is diverted from the landfill and repurposed as a renewable energy source. RNG is carbon-neutral and can also be added to the natural gas network. Unlike the electricity system, no infrastructure expansion is required to enable greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.

The benefit of producing and using RNG is that it captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Although methane from decomposing organic waste accounts for only 10 percent of GHG emissions, it contributes to global warming — it’s about 25 times^† more harmful than carbon dioxide.

Proven, scalable, and quick to implement, RNG is not the only solution to climate change — but it’s an immediate, feasible way to reduce emissions and put Ontario on track for its long-term climate commitments.

With RNG produced from organic waste, vehicles can be carbon-negative

One of the most exciting applications for RNG is in the transportation sector. Earlier this year, Ontario’s first carbon-negative bus in Hamilton
set new standards for sustainable transit. Launched in partnership with Enbridge Gas, the bus is fuelled by locally-sourced RNG produced at
the StormFisher facility in London, ON. RNG is renewable and plentiful, and its cumulative impact — from diverting methane to displacing diesel emissions—takes the vehicle’s emissions to below zero.

The carbon-negative bus is just one example of an effective and scalable step forward. In recent years, Hamilton Street Railway moved away from diesel and expanded its fleet with more than 130 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Today, it’s uniquely positioned to fuel them with compressed RNG and amplify its environmental impact even further.

The “quick win” of decarbonizing light-duty fleets

So what about vehicles that still have years of useful life? Rather than electrify an entire fleet at once, it’s more manageable to convert existing diesel, propane or gasoline vehicles to RNG and reduce emissions right away. There are many opportunities in light- to medium-duty fleets
(Class 1 – 6), including:

1. Snow plows
2. Refuse trucks
3. Delivery trucks
4. Supervisory vehicles
5. Public works vehicles
6. Emergency vehicles
7. School buses

CNG vehicles serve as a low-risk, low-cost “proof of concept” to support the case for larger RNG projects. In the long run, demonstrating success at a small scale will help strengthen the case for broader RNG fleet conversions.

The City of Toronto has implemented an initiative to produce and use RNG. Every year, about 35 percent of the City of Toronto’s Green Bin organic waste is transformed into RNG, diverting about 55,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfills. The RNG is used to fuel the city’s waste collection fleet and added to the natural gas system, which cuts down on GHG emissions and reduces reliance on landfills.

Expert help to find the lowest-cost path to conversion

Every climate solution has complexity. Embridge Gas’ dedicated team of energy experts are ready to provide you with the technical expertise and information to produce and use RNG. Enbridge Gas works closely with agribusiness, food processors, municipalities, waste management, and other organizations to help identify, facilitate, and get RNG projects off the ground.

As partners in sustainability, Enbridge’s team can help find RNG opportunities that leverage existing investments in vehicles or buildings. Take advantage of expertise, insights from successful past projects, and access to the North American marketplace.

RNG will play an important role in the clean energy transition. As plans to reduce emissions evolve, it’s a promising and proven way for more leaders to take meaningful climate action.

^*Source: www.nzwc.ca/focus-areas/food/issue/Pages/default.aspx
^† Source: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/transparency-and-reporting/greenhouse-gas-data/frequently-asked-questions/global-warming-potentials-ipcc-fourth-assessment-report
^‡ CO₂e stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. It is used to describe different greenhouse gases in a common unit.
^** Net emissions from vehicle using 40,000 m³ RNG/year. 40,000 m³ of RNG is the equivalent of 1,623 GJ or 451,195 kwh of energy per year.
^†† 85,000 kg CO₂e/yr of CO2 is released from the combustion of RNG. Since RNG is derived from organic waste produced by plants that take up CO2, these CO2 emissions are considered biogenic and not additional to the atmosphere. Trace amounts of CH4 and N2O are also produced from the combustion of RNG that result in 11,000kg CO₂e/year of emissions being released.
^‡‡ Net emissions from powering electric bus using 451,000 kwh/year based on Ontario grid.
All calculations are based on Ontario’s electric grid for illustration purposes only. Actual calculations will be provided when working with Enbridge Gas. © 2021 Enbridge Gas Inc. All rights reserved. ENB 657 09/2021

The post Ramp Up Climate Action Quickly and Affordably with RNG appeared first on HiveInnovates.