Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners to build first small modular reactor in Ontario
By Adam Freill
Construction InfrastructureExpected to be operational by 2030, province says Ontario’s new nuclear reactor will add jobs while helping secure Ontario’s energy supply.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 SMR. (Image courtesy of GE Vernova)
Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners, a general partnership between Aecon and Kiewit Nuclear Canada, has been awarded an alliance construction contract by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) for the execution phase on the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) in Clarington, Ont., which will see the delivery of North America’s first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR).
Expected to be completed and in commercial operation in 2030, the project is being delivered under an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model and, during the execution phase, Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners will work collaboratively with partners OPG, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and AtkinsRéalis. The scope of work during the execution phase includes project management, construction planning and execution.
“OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project is a trailblazing undertaking, leading the way in delivering the next generation of nuclear plants across North America and internationally,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, president and chief executive officer at Aecon Group Inc. “Aecon is proud to bring its diverse nuclear expertise and multidisciplinary capabilities to play a prominent role in safely executing this exciting project to meet the energy demands of future generations in Ontario.”
“Backed by over five decades of nuclear experience and the collective capacity of our project team, we are well positioned to successfully execute the next phase of this clean energy project with a steadfast commitment to safety, quality, schedule and cost performance,” added Aaron Johnson, senior vice-president for nuclear at Aecon Group. “Aecon continues to pursue strategic growth across a full spectrum of nuclear opportunities spanning large-scale new builds, SMRs, and life extension programs in existing and target priority markets.”
According to the provincial government, electricity demand is expected to rise by at least 75 per cent in Ontario by 2050. The approval of this project is the first of four SMRs that are to be built at the Darlington site. Once complete, this SMR will be the first of its kind in the G7, producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of 300,000 homes.
The province says the construction, operation and maintenance of the four units will add $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years.
“This is a historic day for Canada as we start construction on the first small modular reactor in the G7, creating 18,000 jobs for Canadians,” said Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s minister of energy and mines. “This nation-building project being built right here in Ontario will be led by Canadian workers using Canadian steel, concrete and materials to help deliver the extraordinary amount of reliable and clean power we will need to deliver on our ambitious plan to protect Ontario and unleash our economy.”
The BWRX-300 is a small-scale nuclear reactor that uses commercially available uranium to generate power. Once complete, the four reactors will produce 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes, to help bridge a power gap that could emerge in the early 2030s in the absence of net-new baseload power sources added to the grid.
“This is a proud moment for GE Vernova Hitachi and Ontario as we move from vision to reality with construction of the G7’s first SMR, the BWRX-300,” said Lisa McBride, country leader with GE Vernova Hitachi SMR Canada. “GE has been part of Canada’s nuclear story from the very beginning, and we’re honoured to carry that legacy forward by delivering a made-in-Ontario solution that strengthens our economy and powers our future.”
The first SMR will cost $6.1 billion, along with costs for systems and services common to all four SMRs of $1.6 billion. Costs are expected to decline with each subsequent unit as efficiencies are gained, similar to the Darlington Refurbishment Project.
OPG began site preparation for the first SMR in December 2022. Ontario announced that OPG would begin planning and licensing for three additional SMRs, for a total of four SMRs at the Darlington nuclear site in July 2023. OPG obtained a licence to construct for Unit 1 from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission this past April.
“As the first mover on SMRs, this made-in-Ontario project will create jobs for the province’s workers, contracts for Ontario’s booming supply chain, and showcase our capabilities and expertise to the world to further grow our domestic industry while strengthening Canada’s energy security,” stated Nicolle Butcher, president and chief executive officer at OPG. “As we saw through the refurbishment project, building a fleet of SMRs with the support of Ontario’s strong nuclear supply chain will provide further opportunities to learn, identify efficiencies, and expand the supply chain. All of this invaluable, irreplaceable experience will prepare us to take on the next large nuclear project.”
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