SMRs would provide economic boost to Ontario, says report

23 October 2023

The construction and operation of four small modular reactors (SMRs) by Ontario Power Generation at its Darlington site will contribute about CAD15.3 billion (USD11.2 billion) to Canada's GDP, including CAD13.7 billion to Ontario's GDP, according to a report by the Conference Board of Canada. The units will create and sustain 2000 jobs each year in Canada over the next 65 years, it says.

The Darlington plant site (Image: OPG)

"There is now an increasing need for investing in stable and reliable energy resources, such as commercial-scale SMR technology," the report says. "The deployment of more nuclear power in Ontario is a major investment decision. It is therefore important to understand the potential economic benefits for the province and the country of investing in new nuclear power generation."

Conference Board of Canada partnered with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to analyse the economic impact and fiscal benefits of building and operating four SMRs within Ontario.

It found the SMRs would have a substantial positive impact on the Ontario and Canadian economies, with Ontario reaping 89% of the economic benefit associated with the project.

Each SMR built would increase GDP by nearly CAD3.8 billion and provide 500 jobs annually over the 65-year period. In addition, the amount of tax revenues accruing to all levels of government is expected to be about CAD4.9 billion over the next 65 years, which includes plant construction and operations. The expected number of jobs created by the project will be about 113,161 provincially and 128,431 nationally.

"The economic impact, or the ratio of increased GDP to spending (the 'economic multiplier') is 0.82 – each dollar spent would increase Canadian GDP by CAD0.82 across the total lifespan of the technologies," Conference Board of Canada found.

On 31 October last year, OPG submitted an application to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a licence to construct a GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) BWRX-300 at the Darlington site. This licence is required before any nuclear construction work on the SMR can begin. However, site preparation work is already under way at the site. OPG expects to make a construction decision by the end of 2024. Construction of the unit is scheduled to be completed by late 2028, with the supply of power to the grid set to start in 2029.

The Ontario government announced in July it is working with OPG to begin planning and licensing for three additional BWRX-300 reactors at Darlington. Subject to Ontario Government and CNSC regulatory approvals on construction, the additional SMRs could come online between 2034 and 2036. This timing would allow OPG to apply learnings from the construction of the first unit to deliver cost savings on subsequent units, the government noted. Building multiple units will also allow common infrastructure such as cooling water intake, transmission connection and control room to be utilised by all four units instead of just one, reducing costs even further.

"Being the first North American mover of this innovative technology positions Ontario as a world leader in nuclear and a welcoming destination for new business," said OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick. "Our plan to construct four new reactors at Darlington will also generate opportunities across Ontario and Canada as suppliers of nuclear components and services have an opportunity to expand to serve the growing SMR market here and abroad."

Bruce Power to start impact assessment process for Bruce C

23 October 2023

Bruce Power has formally notified Canadian regulators of its intent to launch an Impact Assessment (IA) for potential new nuclear generation on the Bruce Power site.

Room to grow: Bruce's existing site has ample space for more capacity (Image: Bruce Power)

Days after announcing the launch of an Expression of Interest process to explore technology options for up to 4800 MWe of new nuclear capacity at its existing site, the company submitted a letter of intent to the heads of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) providing "a formal notice of Bruce Power's intent to submit an application for a Licence to Prepare Site and commence an Impact Assessment".

"The company is advancing this process in a proactive, open and transparent manner in order to engage Indigenous peoples, our communities and the public early in the process as a planning tool to meet Ontario's long-term energy needs," said Bruce Power’s Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice-President of Operational Services James Scongack.

Bruce Power previously applied for a licence to prepare for construction of up to four new reactors - totalling up to 4000 MWe - in 2007, but withdrew its application in 2009 as the company focused on the refurbishment of the existing Bruce A and B units. The company says the return to service of the four Bruce A units after being laid up in the late 1990s was "one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in the world", leading to 70% of the energy needed for the province to phase out coal-fired generation entirely in 2014."The goal is to build on this success," the company said.

The start of pre-development work for up to 4800 MWe at the Bruce site is a key part of the province's long-term electricity framework, Powering Ontario’s Growth, which was launched in July. The additional capacity - referred to as Bruce C - would complement the eight existing reactors at the Bruce A and B generation facilities, the company said.

In its letter to the regulators, Bruce Power says the site was selected "given its unique and strong characteristics" and is a well-studied site supported by "decades" of previous approvals. There is "ample" space on the 932 hectare site, connections to existing transmission corridors, and the support of a skilled workforce and an engaged and supportive local community.

"Canada is at an important juncture, we will only be able to address climate change, advance a net zero future and grow our economy through investment in long-term clean electricity infrastructure," it went on. "By starting early and engaging in pre-development work, it will place Canada in a strong position to be successful and inclusive while tackling these challenges. This approach will result in greater long-term certainty so we can address the challenges ahead together."

Bruce Power explores technology options for nuclear expansion

18 October 2023

Bruce Power announced it is launching an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to "further understand nuclear technologies that could help meet growing demand for clean electricity and advance decarbonisation efforts in Ontario". In July, the provincial government said it was starting pre-development work to build up to 4800 MWe of new nuclear capacity at Bruce Power's existing site.

The Bruce site (Image: Bruce Power)

The company said the EOI process will provide an opportunity for nuclear technology suppliers to engage and express their interest in participation in the potential Bruce site expansion while enabling Bruce Power and industry partners to evaluate a variety of nuclear energy technologies, "which would leverage Canada's robust nuclear supply chain, ensure the best interests of the ratepayer, include Indigenous community considerations, and increase socioeconomic benefits for the Clean Energy Frontier region of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties".

"Ontario has one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world and as we look to meet increased demand from continued electrification and economic growth in the province, nuclear power will be essential to preserving this advantage," said Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck. "Bruce Power is uniquely positioned for potential expansion, with decades of experience, a well-studied site, significant space for expansion, strong community support and an experienced workforce.

"Canada's nuclear industry supports 76,000 well-paying, highly skilled jobs, generating billions in GDP annually while providing a vital supply of carbon-free electricity to advance our climate targets. As we assess potential expansion options, we will lean on the knowledge and skills of our industry, built through more than a half century of operational experience."

With support from the Ontario government - as outlined in its Powering Ontario's Growth Plan, launched in early July - Bruce Power is in the pre-planning stages of the federally-regulated Impact Assessment (IA) process, which will look at nuclear expansion options on the site. The company noted the IA process includes Indigenous and public engagement and will formally commence with the submission of an Initial Project Description to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada in the coming months.

Bruce Power is located in the traditional and treaty territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and the harvesting territories of the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Historic Saugeen Métis.

It said it is working with Indigenous-owned Makwa Development on the IA and will look for further procurement opportunities for Indigenous companies through its Indigenous Procurement Policy and Indigenous Relations Supplier Network.

Bruce Power is also collaborating with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to develop a feasibility study for potential future nuclear generation in Ontario, which may leverage information from the EOI.

"As Bruce Power evaluates clean technology opportunities, it will engage with independent, non-profit energy R&D institute EPRI and the Nuclear Innovation Institute, an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides a platform for accelerating the pace of innovation in the nuclear industry," Bruce Power said.

The Ontarian government has already implemented a plan to meet rising electricity demand in the current decade, but in 2022 IESO issued a report forecasting that the province could need to more than double its electricity generation capacity from today's 42,000 MWe to 88,000 MWe by 2050.

Bruce Power's eight existing Candu reactors already produce about 30% of Ontario's electricity, and the company has said the site has space for "incremental infrastructure development".

Researched and written by World Nuclear News