Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has received approval from the provincial government to begin building Canada’s inaugural small modular reactor, a nuclear facility that will be located next to the Darlington power plant an hour east of Toronto.
The first of four reactors, which are expected to come with a combined cost of nearly $21 billion, will be built in Bowmanville, Ont., says Energy Minister Stephen Lecce. The estimated construction cost of the first reactor is $7.7 billion, with work set to start this year and conclude by 2029, with connection to the grid in 2030.
“Ensuring that we have reliable, affordable energy is essential to the economic sovereignty of our province and country,” Lecce said during a recent press conference near the Darlington nuclear generating station. He noted that the Independent Electricity System Operator is estimating the province will need 75 percent more power by 2050….