BWX Technologies’ Advanced Nuclear Reactor (BANR) has been selected for a power plant project in New Brunswick, Canada, marking the reactor’s first commercial and international deployment.
The project will advance through a partnership between BWXT, Prodigy Clean Energy, and the Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations.
BANR Reactor Development
BWXT describes BANR as a modular, factory-fabricated, high-temperature gas reactor designed to be compact and transportable. The reactor is designed to produce 75 MWt and uses 19.75 percent high-assay, low-enriched uranium formed into TRISO particles.
BANR received $106.6 million in risk reduction funding from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program in 2020. The program supports advanced reactor development through multiple funding groups.
More recently, BANR was selected for the US Army’s Janus Program, with the reactor designated for deployment at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. BWXT said “a 20-megawatt electric version of BANR will be deployed.” under the programme.
New Brunswick Project
Prodigy Clean Energy announced its proposal on September 1 to deploy an up to 50 MWe full-scale Prodigy transportable nuclear power plant (TNPP) within the traditional territory of the Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations in Belledune, New Brunswick.
The TNPP is intended to be First Nations-owned and serve as a pilot project for the commercial deployment of a TNPP fleet across Canada’s North and global export markets. Operations are targeted for the early 2030s, while the Government of New Brunswick has signed a letter of intent to offtake electricity generated by the plant.
The TNPP is a factory-built, transportable civil structure rather than a power generation facility. It must therefore be paired with reactor technology. Prodigy aims to use the approach to reduce construction costs and project timelines.
Two BANR Units Planned
On October 5, BWXT announced that BANR had been selected for the first deployment of Prodigy’s TNPP. BWXT described the reactor as “intended to produce 75 megawatts thermal, or 22 MWe.” Kinetrics, a BWXT subsidiary, will also participate in the project.
Two BANR units are planned for the Belledune site, providing “up to 50 megawatts electric.” BWXT and Prodigy are currently “working toward a definitive agreement for cooperative project development, engineering, licensing, supply chain integration, financing, and deployment of BANR-TNPPs. The companies will target commercial, industrial, and defense energy projects globally for future applications.”
Licensing Progress
The BANR reactor still faces further licensing work. BWXT submitted a regulatory engagement plan to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2022, when the reactor had a slightly different 50-MWt design. The company has not since reached major NRC licensing milestones.
There are also no publicly available records of engagement with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission at the time of the announcement.
BWXT And Prodigy Partnership
John MacQuarrie, BWXT president of commercial operations, said, “By joining forces with Prodigy and integrating BANR with Prodigy’s transportable platform design, we are truly expanding BWXT’s horizons for future customers while reinforcing Canada’s role at the forefront of innovative, deployable advanced nuclear energy solutions.”
The project represents the first commercial and international deployment opportunity for the BANR reactor, while BWXT and Prodigy continue work toward a definitive agreement covering development, engineering, licensing, supply chain integration, financing and deployment.