The first compact modular reactor in Canada will be built at the site of an existing nuclear plant in Ontario. The federal government’s Canada Infrastructure Bank will contribute around $1 billion to the project. The 3,500-megawatt Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is near the 300-megawatt project that is being built by Ontario Power Generation.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are nuclear power plants that are far more compact than conventional plants. These SMRs could supply electricity to around 300,000 homes. Government and business representatives hailed SMRs as an essential step toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The first project, according to OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick, but probably not the last.
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Expectations for the first modular reactor in Ontario
In 2028, the first Darlington SMR is expected to begin producing electricity. The province of Ontario and the energy system operator recently announced a number of actions to try to get ahead of the shortage of electricity that is expected in Ontario over the next few years.
The Pickering nuclear power plant’s lifespan is being sought to be added by a year to 2026. Furthermore, the province is thinking of refurbishing it to get an additional 30 years out of it. Along with expanding energy-saving initiatives, it is also acquiring the extra capacity for electricity and natural gas generation.
I believe that when we move forward with the first reactor, that first SMR, we will design the site to potentially build four there, but we won’t begin the second one until we are confident in the first one’s performance, according to Hartwick.
I know the first SMR here at Darlington will play an important role in providing reliable clean baseload power for our electricity grid as we face added energy demand in Ontario as a result of a strong period of economic growth and increasing electrification,” said Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith.
