OPG awarded a $32 million contract to ES Fox Limited for the first phase of site preparation and support infrastructure for the Darlington New Nuclear Project, said a statement.
Executing this initial work will involve some 100 new jobs for Ontarians. Infrastructure work under this contract includes bringing services to site including:
- Water
- Electrical power
- Information technology
- Roads
In December, OPG announced it would work with GE Hitachi to work toward constructing Canada’s first commercial, grid-scale SMR.
This early site preparation is expected to begin later this year, when OPG receives necessary permits and regulatory approvals. Further regulatory approvals are required, through the CNSC, before any SMR construction work can begin.
“The world is watching Ontario when it comes to SMRs,” said Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy. “I look forward to seeing the progress made by ES Fox and OPG as we prepare to deploy Canada’s first grid-scale SMR. This project will create good jobs and clean energy while cementing our reputation as a global hub for nuclear technology and SMR expertise.”
Quick Facts
- Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is one of the top-performing nuclear stations in the world and generates about 20 per cent of Ontario’s electricity each day.
- The Darlington New Nuclear Project is the only site in Canada with an accepted Environmental Assessment and site preparation licence, the first in a series of licences required to build a new nuclear generating facility.
- Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the advancement of SMRs as a clean energy option to address climate change and regional energy demands, while supporting economic growth and innovation.
- The Darlington SMR will provide a critical new source of clean nuclear generated power for Ontario’s future projected energy needs – a demand widely expected to ramp up as transportation and other sectors electrify, using Ontario’s clean power to help decarbonize the broader economy. International bodies, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), have been clear: climate change initiatives will fall short without nuclear power as part of the electricity supply mix.
- A single SMR of about 300 megawatts in size can prevent between 0.3 megatonnes (MT) to 2 MT of greenhouse gases emissions per year, depending on where it is located and what kind of power it is displacing.