The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) conducted a pre-licensing Vendor Design Review (VDR) for the ARC-100, an optional process to evaluate a reactor design’s compliance with Canadian regulatory standards. The VDR includes three phases: assessing regulatory compliance, identifying potential licensing barriers, and addressing findings from the second phase. Phase 1, completed in October 2019, took 12–18 months, while Phase 2, started in 2022, spanned 24 months. During Phase 2, ARC submitted extensive technical documentation covering 19 focus areas, including safety systems, reactor design, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance.
The CNSC has now concluded Phase 2, determining no fundamental barriers to licensing the ARC-100. This milestone strengthens ARC’s ongoing licensing efforts for a demonstration unit planned at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant site in New Brunswick, in collaboration with New Brunswick Power (NB Power). The project, targeting commissioning by 2029 pending approvals, aligns with a 2022 strategic plan for SMR development by the governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Alberta. In July 2023, NB Power and ARC submitted an environmental impact assessment and a site preparation license application for the New Brunswick site.
“This significant milestone reflects ARC’s dedication and commitment to meeting Canada’s rigorous nuclear regulatory standards,” said Robert Braun, ARC Chief Operating Officer. “The successful completion of this review by the CNSC, an internationally respected nuclear regulator, gives global credibility to our technology and sets us apart as a leader among advanced small modular reactor technologies.”
“NB Power congratulates ARC Clean Technology on the completion of Phase 2 of the CNSC’s Vendor Design Review,” said Lori Clark, President and CEO of NB Power. “We’ve been pleased to provide technical support throughout this process and recognise this as a meaningful step in ARC’s project development. We look forward to continued collaboration in exploring innovative energy solutions.”
The successful Phase 2 review enhances confidence in the ARC-100’s development, positioning it as a promising solution for sustainable energy. The project supports Canada’s efforts to advance clean energy technologies through innovative reactor designs, fostering collaboration between industry and regulatory bodies.
