Approach to SMR Technology Downselection for The New Brunswick Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) Pilot Project

The project’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology evaluation and downselection considers safety, commercial readiness, Canadian supply chain participation, and long-term benefits for Indigenous communities and residents in the region.

Work is nearing completion on the SMR selection process for the Belledune, New Brunswick, Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) Pilot Project. 

Planned for deployment on the First Nations’ traditional territory, the approximately 50 MWe Prodigy TNPP facility is intended to supply clean baseload energy equivalent to the needs of up to 40,000 homes in Northern New Brunswick. The Pilot is designed to demonstrate Canadian TNPP infrastructure that can be serial manufactured and delivered for Northern, Arctic and international energy markets.

Why a Pilot Project Matters

The New Brunswick Pilot Project will showcase the first commercially operating TNPP that is capable of responding to an important challenge: strengthening energy security in Canada’s North.

Northern and Arctic communities and major infrastructure projects need dependable electricity and heat sources that offer a cleaner and more economical alternative to diesel. The Prodigy TNPP deployment strategy is intended to integrate a highly reliable nuclear generating facility into a transformed Northern energy system while supporting new housing, airports, ports and mines. 

“In addition to important technical considerations, our process for SMR selection prioritized one that will be ready for near-term operation, is well-suited for remote and Northern applications, and will be well-supported over its lifecycle by Canadian know-how and a Canadian supply chain to assure multi-decade safety, reliability and economic operation,” said Marcel Devos, VP of Innovation and Regulatory Affairs, Prodigy Clean Energy.

“I’m happy to be part of a project built on trust, honesty and transparency. Together with Prodigy, we looked at the strength of the reactor companies’ engineering and team to deliver a safe technology for Belledune, and also their commercial readiness to deliver the SMR by the early 2030s,” said Chief Terry Richardson at Pabineau First Nation. “Another major factor in our selection process took into consideration maximizing Canadian content and near-term opportunities for the supply chain in New Brunswick.”

“Eel River Bar appreciates the thoughtful and rigorous evaluation process carried out by Prodigy—it ensures not only that the selected SMR can be operated safely and securely, protecting our people and environment, but also that the SMR developer possesses the capacity to support a successful project while deeply valuing the leadership roles of First Nations,” said Councillor Karen Narvie, Eel River Bar First Nation.

What the Pilot Project is looking for

Developed in consultation with project partners and government stakeholders, Prodigy’s Technology Evaluation and Downselection Process was designed around two objectives: The first is to deploy a near-term commercial pilot in Belledune that can demonstrate a replicable TNPP facility for Canadian Northern and coastal energy projects in the approximately 50–200 MWe range, with heat-offtake options. The second is to support the Government of Canada’s objectives under Pillar 4 of the Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada by demonstrating how Prodigy’s TNPP infrastructure could deploy lower-output microreactors, including for defence applications.

A successful pilot depends on more than the reactor technology itself. The selected developer and design must also be a strong fit for the project, including in the following areas:

• The SMR developer’s organization is sufficiently and appropriately resourced and structured to work cooperatively and efficiently.
• There is sufficient evidence of commitment to Canadian Led and Controlled content across the full value chain (design, manufacturing, supply chain, etc.).
• There is value alignment to support demonstrating tangible long-term benefits to Indigenous Peoples.
• There is sufficient information being developed to support plant economics and an industrialization strategy.
• The roadmap and schedule for readiness of the SMR design is credible, providing clear indications that the right information will be ready in time for each Pilot Project milestone.

How Technologies were Assessed

The SMR screening also considered practical attributes that would affect deployment, operation and long-term support, particularly in consideration of deploying a future TNPP fleet in remote regions:

• Compactness, ruggedness, resilience, and ease of maintenance of systems. 
• Ability to be self-sufficient for electrical power for a long time.
• Use of proven safety features that reduce reliance on human intervention.
• Proliferation resistant design.
• Ease of refueling, and a balance between long intervals between refueling and the need to inspect and maintain reactor systems.
• Operational and economic efficiency to deploy multiple reactor units at a site.
• Access to a secured supply chain for reactor fuel.
• The SMR developer is capable of providing long-term technical support to the Nuclear Operating Organization and supporting long-term waste management and decommissioning objectives.
• Likely compatibility of the reactor design and lifecycle approach with Canadian nuclear regulatory requirements.

What Comes Next

The selected SMR technology is expected to be identified in October 2026. That decision will begin the next phase of detailed technical work: integrating the reactor into Prodigy’s TNPP architecture and advancing the New Brunswick Pilot Project through the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s multi-stage licensing process.