With governments and industries increasingly turning to nuclear power to expand grid capacity and meet clean-energy targets, a leading Ontario Tech University engineering researcher says Canada must act now to build the workforce that will power that future.
Dr. Sharman Perera, Associate Teaching Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (third from left), with Engineering students inside the Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System in Ontario Tech University's Energy Research Centre.
Dr. Hossam Kishawy, Dean of Ontario Tech University's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, highlights the essential role of next-generation engineers in Canada's nuclear and clean-energy future, and how their collective innovation will be critical to meeting national climate goals:
Q: Why is nuclear energy crucial in Canada's efforts to tackle climate change?
Canada, like many countries, is facing rising greenhouse gas emissions, which are accelerating global warming and threatening ecosystems as well as economic stability. Nuclear energy is a clean and reliable solution, and it's expandable to adjust to future demands. It provides a stable electricity source, available 24/7. In Ontario, for example, nuclear energy supplies 52 per cent of the province's electricity, and continued use will cut 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, or 3.8 per cent of projected 2030 emissions (compared with natural gas).
Q: What makes nuclear power a more dependable source than other renewables?
Nuclear energy's reliability comes from its independence from weather and seasonal variation. While hydroelectric power remains Canada's largest source of renewable energy, it can't meet all of our needs on its own. Wind and solar energy are growing, but they currently represent a small share of Canada's electricity supply. Nuclear fills that gap, and can scale up quickly to meet future demand.
Q: What role do engineers play in supporting nuclear energy in Canada?
Engineers are the backbone of Canada's nuclear sector. They design, operate and maintain our reactors, including our homegrown CANDU (CANada Deuterium Uranium) technology, which has been exported around the world. Nuclear engineers also develop systems that manage radioactive waste, improve reactor efficiency, and ensure public and environmental safety through advanced risk assessments and safety protocols.
Q: How would you describe the growth of the nuclear sector in Canada?
Canada's nuclear sector is gaining serious momentum. The Ontario government alone is in the process of investing $25 billion to refurbish 10 reactors between 2016 and 2031. There's also a major push toward building new small modular reactors (SMRs), a next-generation technology that boasts advanced safety features. SMRs are more flexible, and typically require less physical space than traditional larger nuclear reactors. Ontario has already committed to bringing four grid-scale SMRs online between 2029 and 2035.
Q: How does Ontario Tech support nuclear engineering education and innovation?
Home to Canada's only undergraduate Nuclear Engineering degree program, we offer a range of graduate degrees and research opportunities. Our students build their technical skills through access to modern labs, simulation tools and software. Ontario Tech collaborates with major industry partners like Ontario Power Generation and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. We also focus heavily on engineering ethics, sustainability and safety, ensuring our graduates are responsible and forward-thinking. In addition, we've introduced a Nuclear Career Accelerator program designed for mid-career engineers and technical professionals, whether they come from within the nuclear industry or are transitioning from another sector, to pivot to a high-demand role in nuclear.
Q: What challenges is Canada facing when it comes to building and sustaining its nuclear engineering workforce?
Canada is facing a broader skilled labour shortage, and nuclear engineering is no exception. As we expand our nuclear capacity, we must also invest in training the next generation. That's why Ontario Tech's mission is so important: as Canada's nuclear training ground, we're educating students while advancing the field through research, partnerships and leadership in clean-energy innovation.
Q: What about nuclear waste and decommissioning? What role do engineers play in addressing these concerns?
Engineers are directly responsible for managing these concerns safely. From decommissioning aging facilities to designing long-term waste storage solutions like deep geological repositories, engineering plays a central role in ensuring nuclear energy's environmental footprint stays small. Researchers are also working on technologies that could reprocess spent fuel and reduce nuclear waste for even greater sustainability.
Q: If there's one message you could communicate to policy makers and the public, what would that be?
To achieve its clean-energy goals, Canada must include nuclear power as a key component of its strategy. That's only possible if we also invest in the people behind the technology: the engineers who design, operate and innovate these systems. Supporting nuclear education, research and workforce development is essential to achieving a clean, safe and reliable energy future.
