A former Stonewall resident is calling for a major rethink of Manitoba’s electricity system, arguing climate-driven drought conditions and increasing reliance on imported power are exposing vulnerabilities in the province’s hydro-based grid.
Dr. Matthew Memmott is the CEO and founder of Alpha Tech Research Corp, the leading organization behind the molten salt reactor development
Todd De Ryck said his interest in nuclear energy began after hearing a 2012 CBC Radio Quirks and Quarks interview discussing thorium-based power generation. The program, he said, prompted him to reconsider long-term energy options in the face of climate change.
“I knew then that because of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, we had to stop using fossil fuels and replace them with something else,” he said, adding that his early support focused on wind and solar power before shifting toward nuclear research.
Since then, De Ryck said he has spent years researching nuclear energy and broader energy systems, believing a stronger understanding of energy production is necessary to permanently reduce fossil fuel use. He said his interest in microreactors developed later after concluding many large-scale nuclear reactor designs currently in production would not be a practical fit for Manitoba.
De Ryck argues Manitoba’s heavy reliance on hydroelectric generation leaves the province vulnerable during drought conditions. In his view, increasing electricity imports from the U.S. Midwest grid highlight those risks.
“Because of the droughts, Manitoba Hydro is losing money too rapidly and is overly dependent on importing electricity from the MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) grid in the U.S.A.,” he said, noting reliability concerns and emissions intensity on the grid are part of his reasoning for supporting diversification.
He also pointed to Manitoba’s geography and transmission infrastructure as additional challenges, noting the long distances between northern generating stations and population centres, along with the ongoing costs of major transmission projects.
De Ryck referenced the approximately $5-billion Bipole III transmission line project and more recent announcements involving billions more in transmission upgrades. He also argued Manitoba Hydro’s management of water levels can impact communities, referencing challenges faced by York Factory First Nation during low-water conditions.
A key part of De Ryck’s argument centres on small-scale nuclear technology, particularly molten salt microreactors such as the ARC design developed by Alpha Tech Research Corp.
The company was founded by Dr. Matthew Memmott, who recently delivered a presentation at the Manitoba Museum on the future of nuclear energy.
Memmott, who holds both a master’s degree and PhD in nuclear engineering, said molten salt reactor technology offers “serious benefits” over conventional systems. He described the reactors as lower cost, transportable, modular, autonomous and capable of operating for decades while safely containing nuclear waste.
“What these bring is reliability, consistency, long-term security and the opportunity for remote communities to have this power without needing to buy into huge infrastructure,” he said. “Once installed, it’s designed to last around 50 years, providing power at the negotiated contract price agreed upon installation.”
Memmott estimated the cost of electricity generation would range between six and 10 Canadian cents per kilowatt hour, below the current Canadian average of 15 to 17 cents. The pricing structure, he said, would remain fixed under long-term agreements tailored to each community’s needs.
“It can be 10 years or 200 years — whatever agreement needs to be made for us to work together,” he said.
According to Memmott, molten salt technology allows radioactive material to remain safely contained within the reactor system while enabling spent material to be removed safely. He said the reactors would also require much smaller exclusion zones than conventional nuclear facilities.
“You can stand on the outside of this reactor and hug the blue walls of the reactor all day, every day for a year and not get an appreciable dose of radiation,” Memmott said. “The technology of molten salt reactors addresses that concern in a very unique way — its safety is unparalleled.”
He said the company’s goal is for each reactor site to occupy roughly seven acres while producing about 1.2 megawatts of energy. The reactors themselves are designed to be compact, continuously generating heat and electricity while using only a small portion of their fuel supply over several years of operation.
After approximately six years of full-time use, the reactors would be replaced and returned to Utah or another future manufacturing location for maintenance and waste removal.
“We designed the reactor to be something that worked with today’s framework, with today’s technology and today’s laws,” he said.
Memmott said demand for molten salt reactors is already high, with requests from communities significantly exceeding the company’s current production capacity. He said the company hopes to eventually manufacture approximately 1,000 reactors annually, with distribution based on order timelines and agreements.
He added Canada is among the markets being considered for future deployment, with a current target timeline of roughly five years. He also noted the reactors are designed to be transportable enough for remote deployment, including by military aircraft if required.
De Ryck believes the ARC concept stands out because it is designed to operate independently of weather conditions and could be deployed closer to communities, reducing dependence on long-distance transmission lines.
“The ARC molten salt reactor will be capable of operating in all weather conditions. It will not require water. It is capable of providing ancillary services to the grid and does not emit pollution or greenhouse gases,” he said.
He also suggested rural and northern regions could benefit the most from localized power generation and reduced reliance on diesel fuel in remote communities.
“Rural and northern communities would likely benefit most, as their source of clean, reliable, quiet power could be located right near them,” he said.
De Ryck said he has been actively involved in facilitating discussions on nuclear energy, including organizing virtual conversations with industry representatives and interested organizations. He said some Manitoba Hydro staff and Manitoba Chambers of Commerce representatives attended previous discussions.
He described the reaction from residents and stakeholders as mixed but generally curious.
“Mostly intriguing and prominent business organizations are very interested,” he said, adding skepticism is understandable given nuclear energy’s public reputation.
On concerns surrounding radioactive waste and safety, De Ryck argued the topic is often misunderstood.
“Nuclear energy and spent nuclear fuel are widely misunderstood; be open-minded and patient,” he said, adding he believes spent fuel could eventually be viewed as a resource rather than waste.
De Ryck links his advocacy to broader concerns about climate change, energy security and Manitoba Hydro’s financial volatility during low-water conditions. He believes expanding nuclear options could help stabilize electricity supply while positioning Manitoba as a stronger power exporter.
“I hope Manitobans realize we need to make significant changes to our electricity grid,” he said, adding he sees the potential for Manitoba to become a “global clean energy centre of excellence.”
While Canada has explored small modular reactor development in several provinces, any future nuclear development in Manitoba would remain subject to extensive federal regulation, environmental review processes and public consultation requirements.
Questions regarding molten salt reactor technology can be directed to De Ryck at todddedyck@gmail.com, with additional videos and resources also available online.
