Canada plans to publish a small modular reactor action plan by the end of the year that will lay out the next steps to develop and deploy the technology as part of a climate plan that calls for CAD15bn ($11.7bn) “with more to come” in federal investment towards the country’s net-zero emissions goals.

The Liberal government’s updated climate plan, released on 11 December, says numerous provincial partners, including New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan have expressed a clear interest in using SMR technologies to reduce emissions, decarbonise heavy industry and spur economic development.

The government said it intends to work to advance this important work and will also work with partners from the US, the European Union and the UK to explore the advancement of SMR technology.