Is Canada new global force in nuclear power as SMR construction begins in Ontario?
Ontario
has officially launched construction on
Canada
's inaugural small modular reactor (SMR) after Premier Doug Ford's government authorization. It is a step in the province's strategy to meet a projected 75 percent surge in electricity demand by 2050.
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Led by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in collaboration with GE Vernova and
Hitachi
, the project is set to unfold at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, situated along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
A BWRX-300 SMR, the initial unit will deliver 300 megawatts of power, sufficient to supply approximately 300,000 homes according to Ontario's Ministry of
Energy
and
Mines
, and this reactor is anticipated to be the first of its kind to operate in the Western world.
Stephen Lecce, Ontario's minister of energy and mines, said, "Ontario needs more power. I think we understand this problem today. When you turn the lights on in your living room, you may not think about where that power comes from."
Each subsequent reactor is expected to be more cost-effective, with capital costs projected to decrease by up to 60 percent per megawatt.
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The total investment for the four-reactor project is estimated at $20.9 billion, encompassing shared infrastructure costs. OPG plans to finance the endeavor through a combination of internal funds and debt, with electricity rates anticipated to recover the expenses over time.
The project is also expected to generate significant economic benefits, including up to 18,000 jobs, and contribute C$38.5 billion to Canada's GDP over the next 65 years. Additionally, the initiative will produce C$4.9 billion in tax revenues for municipal, provincial, and federal governments during the same period.
Lecce emphasized the importance of reliable and affordable energy for the province and said, "Ensuring that we have reliable, affordable energy is essential to the economic sovereignty of our province and country."
The BWRX-300 reactor, designed by GE Vernova and Hitachi, is characterized by its compact size, about 10 percent that of traditional reactors, and advanced safety features, including passive cooling systems.
John Bennett, senior policy adviser at the environmental group Friends of the Earth Canada, expressed skepticism over claims that renewables are less cost-effective than the proposed SMR project.
'No nuclear plant of any type has ever come in on budget, let alone a new untested design,' Bennett wrote in an email to CBC News.
But for now, construction is underway, with the first reactor slated to commence operations by 2030, which will put Ontario at the forefront of nuclear innovation within the G7 members and a global leader in next-generation clean energy.
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