At a glance
OPG signs new contracts with partners to support Pickering Nuclear refurbishment and Darlington SMR project.
Contracts totaling more than $3 billion will advance planning, engineering, procurement, and manufacturing of key components.
The two important projects will help support Ontario’s growing economy and meet forecasted increase in electricity demand.
A look at the future home of North America's first Small Modular Reactor at Darlington Nuclear.
It has been a busy start to the year for Ontario’s nuclear industry.
Several recent developments have buoyed the sector’s ongoing resurgence and offered a path forward for OPG’s future nuclear projects, which will be critical to meeting Ontario’s growing electricity demand with low-carbon, reliable, and affordable power.
In January, the Province of Ontario announced its approval of OPG’s plan to proceed with the Project Definition Phase for the Pickering Nuclear Refurbishment project. This next phase will involve the completion of a high-quality cost estimate and schedule for the project, as well as progressing on detailed engineering, procurement and contracting work, and the development of a robust execution plan.
Refurbishing Pickering’s Units 5 to 8 would extend the life of one of the world’s largest and best-performing nuclear stations and return more than 2,000 megawatts of electricity back to the grid by the mid-2030s. The project would also create 11,000 jobs per year while contributing $19.4 billion to Ontario’s GDP over 11 years, according to the Conference Board of Canada.
To support the project, OPG recently signed a $2.1-billion contract with CanAtom, a joint venture of Aecon and AtkinsRéalis. Under the agreement, OPG’s partners will launch procurement of long-lead components, engineering, and infrastructure work to prepare for the execution of Pickering’s Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement program, which will also be supported by BWXT Canada, Nutech, Cameco, and NWI Precision.
Drawing on our shared experience on the Darlington Refurbishment project, which remains on budget and ahead of schedule, working with trusted partners like Aecon and AtkinsRéalis sets the stage for similar project excellence as we refurbish Units 5 to 8 at our Pickering Nuclear station.
Nicolle Butcher
President and CEO, OPG
Nicolle Butcher, right, OPG's President and CEO
This important work will support more than 2,400 jobs across Ontario at its peak.
“Drawing on our shared experience on the Darlington Refurbishment project, which remains on budget and ahead of schedule, working with trusted partners like Aecon and AtkinsRéalis sets the stage for similar project excellence as we refurbish Units 5 to 8 at our Pickering Nuclear station,” said Nicolle Butcher, OPG’s President and CEO. “Pickering Nuclear has a long history of helping power Ontario, and thanks to investments like this, will continue to do so for decades to come.”
Meanwhile, in Cambridge, OPG recently signed contracts valued at more than $1 billion with BWXT Canada to deliver key components for the Pickering Refurbishment as well as the Darlington New Nuclear Project, which is planning for deployment of North America’s first fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMR).
Steam generators convert heat from the nuclear reactor into steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity.
As a long-standing partner, BWXT has been tapped to manufacture 48 new steam generators for Pickering’s refurbishment, as well as the reactor pressure vessel for OPG’s first of four planned SMR units. This work will create more than 350 local jobs.
BWXT will be the first manufacturer in North America to begin this type of work for an SMR technology, furthering Ontario’s position as a global leader in nuclear innovation and production.
Once built, OPG’s four SMRs will be capable of powering about 1.2 million homes, create about 2,000 jobs over their 65-year lifespan, and contribute $15.3 billion to Canada’s GDP.
“The BWXT team stands ready to help our customers and Ontario create a future that provides abundant, emissions-free electricity, while increasing sustainable, good-paying jobs for Canada,” said John MacQuarrie, President, BWXT Commercial Operations. “We’ve been taking strategic steps to further meet the current and anticipated demand for nuclear power. These significant projects leverage BWXT’s extensive capabilities and specialized expertise in the delivery of large components for the domestic and global nuclear industry.”
These latest developments come on the heels of OPG’s recent announcement that it will begin work with the Town of Port Hope and the Michi-Saagig First Nations of the Williams Treaties to explore new nuclear generation at its Wesleyville site. The site could host up to 10,000 MW of new nuclear generation, the equivalent of powering 10 million homes.
Along with Darlington’s ongoing refurbishment, OPG’s planned Pickering Nuclear refurbishment, ongoing SMR development, and potential new nuclear builds will all help meet Ontario’s growing demand for electricity, which is set to increase by 75% by 2050, according to the IESO.
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