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

• 3 years ago (2021-12-03)
• David Flin

North America 1040 Nuclear 678

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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.

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.”