CNL's hydrogen labs get $55-million upgrade

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has announced completion of a $55-million upgrade to its Hydrogen Isotopes Technology Laboratory (HITL) to help researchers to improve the safe operation of nuclear reactors and develop clean energy technologies. A subsidiary of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, CNL is awaiting the federal government's decision on who will take over its operations as a government-owned, contractor-operated facility (R$, November 12/14). The HITL is home to 12 unique labs that will facilitate research into heavy water production and upgrading and the handling of tritium; develop safety systems for releasing hydrogen during emergency situations; use nuclear and renewable energy technologies to produce hydrogen; explore the use of tritium as a power source for long-life batteries; and, apply the above technologies for collaborative and commercial work. Last year, AECL struck an agreement with Isowater Corp, Collingwood ON, to boost the production and markets for heavy water (R$, March 13/14)….