GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) has announced an investment of $50m to establish an advanced BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) engineering and service centre in Ontario, Canada.
The centre will be constructed in the Durham region near the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) site, subject to the further development and construction of three additional units at the site.
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It will deliver engineering and technical services that will support the long-term operation and maintenance of the expected fleet of BWRX-300 SMRs in Ontario.
The proposed facility will feature an advanced virtual reality simulator and offer training capabilities to facilitate safe and efficient refuelling and maintenance operations for SMRs.
It will also focus on developing advanced maintenance and inspection technologies specifically for the SMR units, and function as a centre for outage planning and execution preparation for BWRX-300 reactors.
GE Vernova Canada president and CEO Heather Chalmers stated: “The Canadian BWRX-300 Engineering and Service Centre will bolster Ontario’s position as a nuclear leader and further cultivate Canada’s nuclear energy workforce with an industry-leading training ecosystem.
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By GlobalData“This Ontario-based hub will provide the province with continued access to the best and brightest talent and innovation in the nuclear energy industry while complementing global efforts for deploying the BWRX-300.”
The new facility will function as a centre for innovation and training, knowledge sharing, supply chain engagement and workforce development.
It will create more than 300 well-paid jobs and assist more than 2,000 individuals annually to gain skills essential for careers in nuclear innovation and operations.
Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce stated: “Ontario is proud to lead the world in next-generation nuclear innovation, creating good-paying local jobs, training thousands of skilled workers and delivering clean, reliable power for decades to come.
“By locking in this investment from GE Vernova, we are reinforcing our plan to make Ontario a clean energy superpower where our workers build with Canadian materials, operate with Canadian expertise and export the clean technology the world needs.”
The announcement follows the Ontario government’s approval to proceed with construction of the first of four BWRX-300s at the Darlington site, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in the G7 to approve construction of a grid-scale SMR.
Construction of the first unit will be complete by 2030.
The investment also supports Ontario’s inaugural energy plan, Energy for Generations, aimed at securing the necessary energy to facilitate new housing developments and sustain the economy.
