Development of an optimization-aided small modular reactor siting model – A case study of Saskatchewan, Canada

As an emerging clean technology, the replacement of coal plants and the integration with renewable power generation are two appealing options for the deployment of SMRs in the power system. However, both these applications and SMR siting issues for power systems have multiple complexities that have been difficult to be considered in past studies. Accordingly, an optimization-aided small modular reactor siting (OASS) model is initiated in this study to support decisions of siting, sizing, and timing for small modular reactor (SMR) development. The proposed OASS model is specialized for obtaining possible SMRs siting schemes, wind-SMRs combination schemes, and power system transition schemes with coal plant closure and SMRs deployment. This research initiates the application of an optimization-based modelling approach to tackle SMRs site selection issues for Saskatchewan, Canada. The results disclose that electricity imports and natural gas power will fill the electricity demand gap in Saskatchewan’s power system in the short term. Results obtained from this model can also identify optimized patterns of SMRs and wind farms deployment and siting in Saskatchewan. Power stations with large capacity and independent transmission grid will become the primary choice in the SMRs and wind farms site selection process. Such patterns and alternatives would enable decision-makers obtain optimized energy structure by introducing SMR reflecting trade-offs between overall system costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both economic and environmental perspectives.