Very small modular reactors (vSMRs) could provide clean, economic and reliable power and heat to remote northern mines and surrounding communities in Canada, reducing or eliminating reliance on diesel, according to a study by Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation.

The feasibility study found that the most economical energy mix was for vSMRs to provide 90% of the baseload power required for mining operations and associated uses, with only peak demand periods managed through use of diesel generation.