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BWRX-300 SMR chosen for Canada’s first commercial SMR

  • 2 years ago (2021-12-03)
  • David Flin
North America 1013 Nuclear 654

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has selected the BWRX-300 SMR from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) for the Darlington new nuclear site. This will be Canada’s first commercial, grid-scale SMR, and could be completed by 2028.

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OPG and GEH will collaborate on engineering, design, planning, preparing licensing and permitting materials, and site preparation. Site preparation will start in Spring 2022. OPG will apply for a construction licence by the end of 2022 from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MW water-cooled natural-circulation SMR with passive safety features. It has been certified by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission . It is currently undergoing a pre-licensing Vendor Design Review by the CNSC.

Jay Wileman, President and CEO of GEH, said: “OPG is Ontario’s climate change leader and is positioned to become a world leader in SMRs. Together, this partnership will bring jobs and economic benefits to Durham Region, Ontario, and Canada, and potential global export of this technology.”