Ontario modular reactor to be first in "Western world," GE predicts
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Ontario officials have given final approval to construct a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy small modular reactor (SMR) that the company predicts will be the first SMR operating in the "Western world."
Why it matters: Construction of the 300 megawatt BWRX-300 reactor adjacent to Ontario Power Generation's existing Darlington Nuclear Station will produce enough energy to power 300,000 homes.
- "Successful deployment at Darlington will demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of SMRs, encouraging broader adoption and investment in this transformative technology," it said in a statement on Thursday.
- Once built, it will be "the first of its kind in the G7," Ontario's energy ministry said in announcing the construction greenlight.
What's next: Early site preparation is complete and construction will start soon, GE Vernova said. The reactor is expected to be online by 2030.
- Four total units are eventually planned for the site. All four units are expected to be operating by 2035.
- The total project cost for all the units would be $20.9 billion Canadian ($15.06 USD), Stephen Lecce, the province's energy minister, said at a news event.
State of play: The planned reactors will help meet what provincial officials expect to be a 75% rise in Ontario's power demand by 2050, Lecce said.
- "Ensuring that we have reliable, affordable energy is essential to the economic sovereignty of our province and country," Lecce said in remarks at the site.
By the numbers: Building the four reactors would bring up to 18,000 Canadian jobs and add $38.5 billion ($27.7 USD) to Canada's GDP over the next 65 years, Lecce's office said.
The big picture: The wider outlook for SMRs is mixed.
- They promise standardized, replicable designs to prevent the one-off engineering woes that have bedeviled larger projects.
- There's a lot of interest as electricity demand rises. And big tech companies are inking preliminary deals with SMR developers to help meet AI-driven needs.
- But the sector still faces cost hurdles and other challenges, underscored by the late 2023 collapse of NuScale's project in Idaho.
What we're watching: Small-reactor startups Last Energy and Aalo Atomics now have the most ambitious timelines in North America, targeting power generation by 2027.
The bottom line: SMRs just took an important step forward — but their wider future remains cloudy.
- "As we confront the challenges of increased demand, energy security and carbon intensity, this milestone reaffirms our commitment to innovation and a more sustainable energy future," GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik said in a statement.
