In this update:

1. Register Now – Early Bird Registration and Accommodations Block Ends Soon
2. Preliminary Program Now Available
3. Innovation Night – Call for Student Posters Extended to September 20
4. Conference Workshops – Updates
5. Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities

Register Now – Early Bird Registration and Accommodations Block Ends Soon

Early bird pricing for registrations is available until August 24, 2024. The last two in-person G4SR conferences sold out. Register now to take advantage of discount pricing and to avoid disappointment. Act now to reserve your guest room at the conference hotel, The Westin Ottawa, and take advantage of the special conference rate until August 29, 2024. Act quickly as the room price will rise significantly after August 29! Book online through the Canadian Nuclear Society reservation page. 

Preliminary Program Now Available

The preliminary conference program is now available on the G4SR-5 website. Highlights include:

• An engaging eight session plenary program with updates and insights from sector leaders on SMR deployment strategies in Canada, US, UK and EU; international regulatory collaboration, Indigenous engagement, emerging applications for advanced reactors; and workforce development.
• Workshops and technical tours on October 1;
• Innovation Night on October 2; and
• Technical sessions on October 3 and 4;

Innovation Night – Call for Student Posters Extended to September 20

Are you a graduate or undergraduate student with an innovative idea or undertaking research to support the deployment of Generation IV advanced and small reactors? If so, we have an opportunity for you: the G4SR-4 Innovation Night on October 2. The deadline to submit a poster abstract has been extended until September 20. Additional information is available here. Contact Arthur Situm for more information and to sign up.

The Innovation Night is an opportunity for students to show how their work can contribute to the deployment of advanced reactors in one (or more) of the following areas:

• Technology demonstration / qualification
• Public engagement
• Novel deployments (e,g, off-grid, industrial)
• Workforce development

Student innovators will have the opportunity to showcase a poster of your work to industry experts in a fun and social event. Select students will be invited to present to all attendees.

Conference Workshops – Updates

Kick-off the conference on October 1 with workshops or a technical tour of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories on October 1. Workshops have separate fees not included with general registration. Be sure to select your choice during registration. If you have already registered, please log in to your account on the conference registration portal to update your workshop selection and payment.

-Indigenous Engagement Workshop: Meaningful Consultation and Engagement for the Lifecycle of a Nuclear Facility (Half Day)

Workshop Organizer: Meghan Gerrish, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

• Nuclear proponents must engage with Indigenous Nations and communities with territory, rights and interests in relation to a nuclear development. Indigenous consultation and engagement is an evolving practice emphasizing a good, collaborative relationship and partnership with Nations; however, moving past regulatory requirements is needed to uphold a nation-to-nation relationship and respect the principles of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Discussions will allow attendees to think critically about their practices and help them understand why engaging is required in the first place and how to ensure success moving forward in meeting the expectations of the CNSC and Indigenous Nations and communities.

-Hydrogen Production Using Nuclear Energy -Safety Considerations (Full Day)

Workshop Organizers: Gilles Rodriquez, CEA, and IEA Hydrogen TCP; Rami El-Emam, Ontario Tech University

• This full-day workshop aims to address critical safety aspects and standardization needs associated with integrating hydrogen production facilities with nuclear power plants. Current nuclear fleets as well as the anticipated deployment of SMRs can be coupled to different electrochemical and thermochemical hydrogen production technologies to produce clean and sustainable hydrogen at a large scale. Over the past three years, several nations have delved into demonstration projects for hydrogen production from nuclear energy, providing valuable insights into existing guidelines and standards. This event seeks to build on such initiatives by fostering a comprehensive discussion on the technical and safety aspects of hydrogen production at nuclear power plants.

-Digital Innovation in Nuclear: Unleashing the Power of AI (Full Day)

Workshop Organizer: Emma Wong, OECD -NEA

• This event aims to explore in detail the adoption of AI technologies in the nuclear sector, their impact on existing processes and workforce needs, and the necessary conditions and regulatory approaches for their safe adoption in the sector. Topics include:
  • Increase understanding among decision-makers about AI technologies.
  • Showcase recent progress in AI adoption within the nuclear sector and identify future trends.
  • Identify the conditions needed for widespread and successful adoption of AI in the nuclear sector.

-Integrated Energy Systems Demonstration Workshop (Full Day)

More details to come

NEW – Tour of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (Full Day)

• CNL’s Chalk River Laboratories represent the largest single complex within Canada’s science and technology infrastructure and is the heart of Canadian nuclear R&D. Located 80 km north-west of Ottawa, the site contains several license-listed nuclear facilities, and more than 50 other unique facilities and laboratories.
• Transportation will be provided to and from Chalk River, returning for the opening reception.

UPDATED – Framework for Microreactor Deployment in Canada (Half Day)

Workshop Organizer: Lori Walters, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

• Attendance by invitation only. Contact the workshop organizer for more information.
• This will be the inaugural meeting of a Steering Committee for the development of a Framework for microreactor deployment. The objective of the meeting will be to establish the governance and terms of reference of the committees that will inform the development of the Framework to enable broad support for the deployment of microreactors in remote communities, for industrial power/heat and other decarbonization initiatives in Canada.

-Pan-Canadian Nuclear R&D workshop (Half Day)

Workshop Organizer: Lori Walters, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

• Attendance by invitation only. Contact the workshop organizer for more information.
• The objective of this workshop is to review and establish a Pan-Canadian database of the R&D capabilities, facilities and unique infrastructure in Canada that can be used to support nuclear research and innovation, Canada’s position as a Tier 1 nation, and the advancement of public and policy objectives and SMR deployment. The workshop will also provide a forum for SMR vendors and end-users to access these capabilities.

Contact the workshop co-chairs, Chuk Azih and Hazem Mazhar for more information.

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities

Take advantage of an outstanding opportunity to showcase your company, products and services at G4SR-5. Connect and network with clients, customers, colleagues and peers. Download the G4SR-5 Sponsorship and Exhibitor Information package to find out more. Secure your sponsorships and exhibit space early to receive immediate recognition on the G4SR-5 website. Please communicate your interest and any questions to G4SR-5 Sponsorship & Exhibits Chair Dr. Ben Rouben today. For general inquiries, please contact Rachael Callaghan, Event Manager and Conference Coordinator.

G4SR-5 and the Canadian Nuclear Society gratefully acknowledge the support of our growing list of sponsors:

• Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Host Sponsor
• Hatch, Platinum Sponsor
• Bruce Power, Gold Sponsor
• GE-Hitachi, Gold Sponsor
• Accuris, Silver Sponsor
• BWXT, Silver Sponsor
• Kinectrics, Silver Sponsor
• Curtiss-Wright Nuclear Canada, Silver Sponsor
• NB Power, Bronze Sponsor
• ATS Industrial Automation
• Big Red Oak
• CANDU Owners’ Group
• Centronic
• CSA Group
• Framatome
• Laurentis Energy Partners
• Schweitzer Engineering