X-energy Canada has completed a study demonstrating the feasibility of deploying its small modular reactor Xe-100 in the province of Alberta. The project, conducted with several industrial partners, proposes the repurposing of an existing thermal site to host this next-generation nuclear technology.
The Keephills power plant site, operated by TransAlta Corporation, is being considered for the reactor. Already converted from coal to natural gas, the facility could undergo a nuclear transformation through the integration of the Xe-100. This high-temperature gas-cooled reactor is designed to produce both electricity and 565°C process heat, thus serving thermal demands across Alberta’s industrial and oil sectors.
An industrial model aligned with regional specificities
The study was funded by Emissions Reduction Alberta through the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund of the Government of Alberta. Conducted with Hatch, PCL and Kinectrics, it identifies compatibility between Alberta’s energy and industrial structure and the technical features of the Xe-100. Its air-cooling design increases siting flexibility and reduces water requirements, offering advantages for deployment in the province’s drier areas.
Alberta’s existing supply chain and skilled labour force are seen as assets for the manufacturing and assembly of the reactor’s components. The Xe-100 could serve as a hybrid solution for delivering thermal and electrical energy to remote or stand-alone industrial facilities.
A provincial shift towards nuclear
While Alberta currently has no installed nuclear capacity, the province has participated since 2021 in an interprovincial memorandum of understanding for small modular reactor development. Agreements have been signed with several nuclear technology providers, and a public consultation was recently launched to explore nuclear energy’s role in Alberta’s long-term energy strategy.
X-energy’s project fits into this dynamic, with deployments already planned in Texas and Washington. The group aims to install up to 5 GW of capacity with Amazon by 2039. A separate deal has been announced with Centrica in the United Kingdom for the installation of another 6 GW. Canadian development could represent a new phase of international expansion for the technology.
Energy transitions and industrial strategy
Project partner TransAlta Corporation retired over 3,700 MW of coal-fired capacity in Canada between 2018 and 2021. Its transition from coal to gas, and potentially to nuclear, reflects a broader asset reorientation strategy. Integrating a reactor like the Xe-100 would allow the company to diversify its portfolio while addressing industrial client demands for both heat and power.
“Alberta is uniquely suited to leverage the benefits of the Xe-100 with a strong industrial base, skilled workforce, and unmatched energy expertise,” said Ben Reinke, Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Commercial Officer of X-energy.
