CANDU, short for Canada Deuterium Uranium, is the pressurized heavy-water reactor design Canada developed from the late 1950s, using heavy water as both moderator and coolant so the reactor can run on natural, unenriched uranium rather than the enriched fuel other reactor lines require. The World Nuclear Association dates the first commercial CANDU units to Pickering, Ontario, in 1971; the natural-uranium fuel cycle trades away the cost of enrichment against the added cost of producing heavy water.
Facts
Technology Type Invented Year1971 marks the first commercial units at Pickering, Ontario; design work began in the late 1950s. Classification
MaturityTRL 6: Technology Demonstrated in Relevant Environment 1 Connections
Associated With
Uses Source
Source World Nuclear Association Information Library
Sources
1. CANDU reactor - Wikipedia
Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25Quote, Technology maturity, Wikipedia introduction extract fetched 2026-09-25
In 2020, the CANDU SMR was not selected for further design work for a Canadian demonstration project.
2. World Nuclear Association Information Library
World Nuclear AssociationNuclear Power in CanadaQuote, Nuclear Power in Canada
The first commercial Candu reactors began operation in Pickering, Ontario, in 1971.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.