Future Clean Power and Energy Systems with Nuclear Based Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) & Canadian Experience
There is a growing opinion within the power and energy sectors that relying solely on intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar photovoltaics, will not be sufficient to fully decarbonize the electric grid, transportation, and industrial sectors, nor to meet the increasing electricity demands for AI/Data Centers. In this context, advanced nuclear power technologies are expected to play a crucial role. These include small modular reactors (SMRs), with capacities ranging from 10 MWe to 300 MWe, and microreactors with capacities of 10 MWe or less. As a rapidly emerging nuclear power technology, SMRs, in combination with renewable energy sources, hold significant promise for the development of future clean energy systems. They are particularly well suited for serving large, energy-intensive loads such as AI and data centers, as well as smaller, remote applications.
Canadian roadmap includes the G7’s first deployment of four SMRs at the Darlington power station in Ontario, which are expected to be operational by 2030. Four other provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Yukon and Nova Scotia) are also working towards potential deployment of SMRs in their jurisdictions.
This talk will provide an overview of SMR technology and highlights recent developments in the field. It discusses advanced safety concepts in next-generation SMRs, which rely on passive systems and fundamental physical phenomena such as natural convection, gravity, and circulation. These features enable reactors to shut down safely without the need for human intervention or external power. The talk also examines the economic viability of SMRs, including their ability to provide ancillary grid services. Furthermore, it presents a dynamic computer simulation model developed to evaluate SMR load-following capabilities and to analyze electrical system interactions.
Finally, the integration of SMRs with renewable energy sources is explored as a pathway toward sustainable and resilient clean energy systems. Two application examples are presented, demonstrating how SMRs, when combined with renewables, can effectively support electricity generation and broader energy solutions, such as district heating and hydrogen production.
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- St Lucia campus
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Queensland
- Australia
- Building: 46
- Room Number: 46-442
- Starts 26 May 2026 02:00 PM UTC
- Ends 15 June 2026 02:00 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Prof.Ramakrishna (Rama) Gokaraju
Biography:
Ramakrishna (Rama) Gokaraju received his Bachelor of Engineering degree (with Distinction) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India in April 1992. He received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, in 1996 and 2000, respectively. He was a Research Scientist with the Alberta Research Council and a Staff Software Engineer with IBM Toronto Lab. Since 2003, he has been with the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at the University of Saskatchewan where he is currently a professor and a Graduate Chair in the department. His research work is on power system protection and small modular nuclear reactors (electrical side aspects) for power and energy applications. His research is funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant and the NSERC-Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Alliance Small Modular Reactor Grant.
Address:University of Saskatchewan , , Saskatchewan, Canada