First Hydrogen adds SMR design to U of Alberta project

Executive Summary

• First Hydrogen Corp. has expanded its collaboration with the University of Alberta’s Renewable Thermal Laboratory, led by Prof. Muhammad Taha Manzoor, to advance Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design for green hydrogen production.
• The expanded project focuses on fuel reactor materials, reactor design, and optimization specifically tailored to meet the growing energy demands of AI data centers.
• First Hydrogen is currently reviewing potential project sites in Canada and Europe, leveraging Canada’s nuclear expertise and government support for SMR technology.

Key Details

• Collaboration Expansion: The partnership with Prof. Muhammad Taha Manzoor at the University of Alberta has been broadened to include specific focus areas: fuel reactor materials, reactor design, and reactor design optimization.
• Target Application: The SMR design is being optimized to address the power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
• SMR Benefits Cited: Compact size, remote installation capability, factory fabrication, incremental scalability, enhanced safety via simplified design, potential use of non-enriched uranium fuels, longer refueling periods, and lower upfront costs.
• Strategic Context: The company aims to deliver stable, cost-effective green hydrogen production by integrating nuclear technology.
• Site Selection: First Hydrogen is actively reviewing potential sites for these facilities in Canada and Europe.
• Market Drivers:
  • Goldman Sachs projects a 160% increase in data center power demand by 2030 due to AI.
  • AI queries use nearly 10 times the electricity of a standard Google search.
  • Data centers currently account for 1-2% of global electricity, projected to reach 3-4% by decade-end.
  • U.S. utilities require $50 billion in new generation capacity; Europe faces over $1.7 trillion in grid and renewable investments.
• Regulatory/Political Environment:
  • Prime Minister Carney has endorsed SMR technology for energy independence.
  • Canada currently has 22 nuclear reactors producing 15% of its electricity.
  • Notable Canadian SMR projects include Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington initiative, New Brunswick’s ARC Clean Energy development, and Saskatchewan’s grid-scale exploration.

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Muhammad Taha Manzoor, University of Alberta: "We are pleased to see our collaboration with First Nuclear expanding as they broaden their small modular reactor (SMR) approach by integrating design elements and committing additional support to this challenging yet exciting endeavour. SMR design is a complex, multidisciplinary problem that requires assembling a diverse team of experts. We look forward to deepening our partnerships across Canadian academia and industry in the years ahead."