From the Ground Up: Choosing the Right Site for a Nuclear Power Station

Energy Alberta is committed to building a world-class nuclear power facility in the Peace River area of Northern Alberta. The proposed facility will include up to four 1,000MW-class CANDU MONARK reactors, generating up to 4,800MW of electricity, representing up to 25% of Alberta’s current electricity production.

During operations, the project site will cover about 6.4 square kilometres (640 hectares), which is carefully planned to support safe, efficient operations while minimizing environmental impact. Two locations are currently under consideration for the Project, both about 30 km north of the Town of Peace River.

Site Selection Process: Thorough and Responsible

Choosing the right site is essential to ensuring the project's safety and long-term success. Energy Alberta implemented a rigorous, multi-phase evaluation to identify suitable locations. This process happens in three main phases:

1.    Site Survey: We explore potential locations and eliminate those not meeting basic criteria.

2.    Site Selection: The shortlisted sites are carefully assessed based on key safety, environmental and technical factors.

3.    Site Evaluation: A detailed evaluation of the chosen sites ensures that environmental, safety and operational factors align with project requirements.

Our priority is to choose a location that minimizes environmental disruption, meets the highest safety standards and addresses potential risks with robust mitigation strategies.

Key Considerations for a Suitable Site

When assessing potential sites for a nuclear power plant, several factors are critical:

Safety: We evaluate the location’s natural hazards, such as earthquakes, flooding and geotechnical phenomena, and address the risks associated with potential human-caused incidents. 

Environmental and Cultural Impact: We consider the potential effects on the surrounding environment, wildlife and local communities, including historically and culturally sensitive areas.

Technical Requirements: The site must meet technical needs such as access to cooling water, transportation, skilled labour and supply infrastructure.

Construction and Site Preparation

Once a site is selected, preparation begins with building access roads, levelling the land and setting up essential utilities like water and power. The construction phase follows: creating nuclear and non-nuclear infrastructure, including reactors, cooling facilities, waste storage and support buildings to ensure the plant operates safely and efficiently.

Safe Decommissioning

At Energy Alberta, we are committed to safety at every stage of the nuclear plant’s life cycle, including decommissioning. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission ensures that all plants are decommissioned according to strict regulations. It has detailed plans and financial guarantees to cover the costs of dismantling the plant when its operational life ends.

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