The first phase of site preparation for a small modular nuclear reactor at Ontario Power Generation Inc.'s existing Darlington nuclear plant is complete, Canada's energy and electrification minister said June 13.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced plans in 2023 to expand its small modular reactor (SMR) project at Darlington, known as its Darlington SMR Nuclear Power Plant, to a total of four new units with a combined 1,200-MW capacity.
"I'm pleased to officially announce today that the first phase of site preparations work for the small modular reactor has been completed on time and on budget," Minister Stephen Lecce said during a news conference at the Darlington site.
Lecce also announced the start of the project's next phase of site work, including excavation, shoring walls construction and land clearance for the other three planned units.
Construction of the first new nuclear unit itself cannot begin without licensing. OPG submitted a construction license application in October 2022 for a single General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor at Darlington, and regulators are reviewing the application with plans to hold hearings later this year. The BWRX-300 is a water-cooled, natural circulation SMR.
OPG began site work for the first Darlington SMR in September 2022. Adding an additional three SMRs is necessary to meet increasing demand from electrification and economic growth, the province's Energy Ministry has said.
OPG aims to have its flagship SMR at Darlington online within the decade. The company is partnering with GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Inc. to deploy the initial SMR at Darlington and with the Tennessee Valley Authority to develop advanced nuclear technology.
The three additional SMRs at Darlington could come online between 2034 and 2036, subject to regulatory approvals.
Experts at the province's Independent Electricity System Operator have recommended, among other strategies, advancing new nuclear generation to provide baseload power to meet the province's rising electricity demand in the 2030s and later.
Ontario said last year the province was beginning the process to potentially add up to 4,800 MW of new nuclear generation.