Montreal, Canada-based AtkinsRéalis submitted a notice of intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wednesday, starting the licensing process for the Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor in the United States.
This submission initiates the formal pre-application engagement with NRC and is part of AtkinsRéalis’ strategy to expand into the U.S. market with large-scale reactor technology that is already deployed, the company said in a press release. AtkinsRéalis seeks to use its CANDU units to support U.S. electricity demand pushed by artificial intelligence and data centers.
According to the release, the company is talking with U.S. utilities, state governments and hyperscalers to evaluate possible opportunities. The company said it is focusing on existing nuclear sites and areas with nuclear-friendly policy frameworks to accelerate potential timelines.
“This notice of intent marks a critical milestone in the development of CANDU’s international market,” AtkinsRéalis President and CEO Ian Edwards said. “It’s also the first step in a process that supports our ambition to provide the U.S. with the reliable, affordable and safe large-scale nuclear power that is central to providing energy security and creating investment, jobs and economic opportunity in the country.”
AtkinsRéalis holds the exclusive rights to the CANDU reactor. There are 34 CANDU and CANDU-derived units deployed across the world, including Argentina, Canada, China, Romania and South Korea. All 17 of Canada’s operating reactors across four Canadian nuclear plants are CANDU reactors.
There are multiple variations of CANDU reactor types. The latest version is the Enhanced CANDU 6 design, which is a 700-plus-megawatt pressurized heavy water reactor that uses natural uranium fuel and online refueling. The online refueling feature would enable continuous operation without having to shut down for refueling outages.
Additionally, CANDU technology also produces medical grade isotopes. CANDU reactors in Canada produce 50% of the world’s supply of the Cobalt-60 isotope, AtkinsRéalis said.