UNB Centre for Nuclear Energy Research

In 1991, the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL), and the Research & Productivity Council of New Brunswick (RPC) formed a consortium to establish the Centre for Nuclear Energy Research (CNER) at the UNB Fredericton campus. Originally, CNER was launched to enable AECL (as the owner of CANDU technology) to establish a footprint in New Brunswick, while utilizing the services of RPC and enhancing the academic and research capacity of UNB. Since that time, CNER has acted as a technical hub for CANDU-6 reactor technology and supports the operations and maintenance activities of CANDU nuclear facilities like NB Power, operator of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generation Station. Over the last 35 years, UNB’s CNER has evolved to be a leader in nuclear plant water chemistry, corrosion control, asset and age management, and materials degradation. In addition, CNER has evolved to incorporate work with advanced small modular reactor (aSMR), system computer coding and modernization, as well as research into the long-term storage of spent aSMR fuel. Having expertise in both conventional and advanced nuclear reactor technology development, CNER is a full-service organization providing R&D and training the todays student to be a nuclear ready workforce for tomorrow.