BPA is planning to use an SMR from New Brunswick-based reactor developer ARC Clean Technology, formerly known as ARC Clean Energy, to generate a minimum of 100 MW of zero-emission firm heat and power for industrial users at the port’s recently announced Green Energy Hub.
ARC says its 100-MW SMR can produce electricity and industrial heat that is cost competitive with fossil fuels. A first unit at the Green Energy Hub could be in commercial operation between 2030 and 2035.
The Green Energy Hub is a special development district intended for clean energy projects, along with complementary low-carbon industries to support northern economic growth. It is a key piece of BPA’s 2022-2052 master development plan.
In August, BPA announced an agreement with Cross River to develop a hydrogen facility powered by green-certified energy that would produce ammonia fuel for export. The facility would be at the port’s Green Energy Hub.
The SMR project would see the development of an ARC-100 unit to serve as an energy source for expanded hydrogen production and other industries based at the port, which may include metal fabrication and advanced manufacturing.
Last year the premier of New Brunswick province said his government would give ARC CAD20m (€10.7m, $11.7m) to support development of its ARC-100 SMR technology.
New Brunswick Power has chosen the ARC-100 for potential deployment at its Point Lepreau nuclear site, where a single Candu 6 plant has been in commercial operation since 1983.
In November 2020, ARC, reactor developer Moltex, which is also based in New Brunswick, and New Brunswick Power signed an agreement to work towards establishing an SMR vendor cluster in New Brunswick.
