More money for nuclear energy in 2026?

Key Concepts

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Nuclear reactors significantly smaller than traditional reactors, offering potential for faster deployment and increased flexibility.
• Energy Security: The reliability and stability of a nation’s energy supply, increasingly important due to geopolitical factors.
• Nuclear Renaissance: A period of renewed interest and investment in nuclear energy, driven by climate change concerns and energy security needs.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nuclear Energy: The potential application of AI to improve safety, efficiency, and project delivery in the nuclear sector, alongside associated risks.
• Tripartite Paper: A collaborative document published by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) from the UK, addressing the safe integration of AI in nuclear operations.

Canada’s Nuclear Energy Revival: A Detailed Overview

The interview focuses on the resurgence of interest in nuclear energy in Canada, driven by geopolitical factors, energy security concerns, and the urgent need to address climate change. Ehab Abdel Aziz, Global Director of Nuclear Power Generation at Gowling WLG, outlines the key drivers and potential of this renewed focus.

Drivers of Renewed Interest

Two primary forces are fueling the renewed interest in nuclear energy: geopolitical considerations and the imperative to ensure energy security. Canada possesses a significant advantage in this area, boasting domestically-developed nuclear technology, a robust supply chain, and substantial uranium reserves – among the best globally. Furthermore, the scientific consensus, repeatedly emphasized for decades, highlights the necessity of tripling installed nuclear capacity to effectively combat climate change. This has prompted both provincial and federal governments in Canada to move beyond theoretical discussions and actively pursue nuclear energy deployment.

From Discussion to Deployment

2025 marked a pivotal shift in Canada’s nuclear strategy. The focus transitioned from debating the merits of nuclear energy to actively implementing projects. Specifically, Canada is poised to deploy the Western world’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and is simultaneously preparing for the deployment of larger-scale reactors. This demonstrates a strong commitment from policymakers attuned to the evolving energy landscape.

Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Source

The discussion addresses the perception of nuclear energy as a clean energy source. Abdel Aziz asserts that nuclear energy has always been clean, but its public image has been hampered by fear and misunderstanding stemming from its association with nuclear weapons. He emphasizes that nuclear power reactors and nuclear bombs are fundamentally different. He highlights the consistently demonstrated cleanliness of nuclear reactors in terms of emissions, environmental impact, and human health effects, positioning it as a significantly cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

Canada’s Position and Potential Leverage

While the United States is also pursuing nuclear energy expansion, Canada’s unique position – possessing the fuel, technology, and supply chain domestically – provides a degree of self-sufficiency. This independence from foreign suppliers could potentially be leveraged in future energy negotiations, such as the upcoming KUSMA talks. However, Abdel Aziz doesn’t definitively state Canada holds significant leverage over the US, but rather emphasizes Canada’s strong national position.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is identified as a potential catalyst for accelerating nuclear energy development, but with a crucial caveat: safety. The past two decades have seen challenges in delivering nuclear projects in Western countries, not due to overly strict regulations or industry shortcomings, but due to inherent complexity, uncertainty, and a low tolerance for risk. AI offers a solution by enabling the simultaneous monitoring of thousands of sensors and assisting human operators in making more informed decisions, potentially mitigating the human errors that contributed to incidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl.

However, the safe deployment of AI in nuclear operations remains a significant concern. The first International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) symposium in late 2025 focused specifically on the benefits, risks, and safety considerations of integrating AI into nuclear construction and operation. The CNSC, US NRC, and ONR from the UK have jointly published the “Tripartite Paper” to address these issues. Acknowledging warnings from experts like Geoffrey Hinton regarding the complexity and potential risks of AI, Abdel Aziz stresses the need for cautious and safe implementation.

Project Delivery Challenges & AI’s Potential Impact

The interview highlights the current limitations in nuclear project delivery. EDF, a major Western supplier, aspires to deliver only one reactor per year. To achieve the necessary tripling of global nuclear capacity (requiring over 900 reactors), a significant increase in efficiency is essential. Reducing complexity and uncertainty – safely – through the application of AI is presented as a potential pathway to achieving this goal.

Notable Quotes

• “We have home-grown nuclear technology, a robust supply chain and home-grown uranium reserve, some of the best in the world.” – Ehab Abdel Aziz, emphasizing Canada’s advantages.
• “It has always been [a clean source of energy], to be honest. What's different about nuclear is that it scares people and understandably so.” – Ehab Abdel Aziz, addressing the perception of nuclear energy.
• “We just have a very high degree of complexity that’s come in because of uncertainty and very low tolerance for risk.” – Ehab Abdel Aziz, explaining the challenges in nuclear project delivery.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The interview paints a picture of a nuclear energy sector in Canada poised for significant growth, driven by a confluence of factors including energy security, climate change mitigation, and technological advancements. While challenges remain, particularly regarding project delivery and the safe integration of AI, Canada’s unique advantages and proactive government policies position it as a key player in the potential global nuclear renaissance. The emphasis on safety, collaboration (as evidenced by the Tripartite Paper), and innovation will be crucial to realizing the full potential of nuclear energy in the years to come.