CLARINGTON – Ontario is announcing the completion of the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station five months ahead of schedule, marking a significant milestone in the province’s plan to tackle soaring demand for energy. Refurbishing and returning Unit 1 to service provides 875 megawatts (MW) of reliable, affordable and clean power for the next 30-plus years, enough to power 875,000 homes.
“Ontario needs more electricity – 75 per cent more by 2050 – to power new homes, historic new investments and an electrifying economy,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Delivering this massive clean energy project five months ahead of schedule is a testament to the incredible knowledge and skill of Ontario workers and positions us for success as we build out our plan to meet the soaring energy demand over the next 25 years.”
The Darlington Refurbishment Project is one of Canada’s largest energy projects. The refurbishment of Unit 1 involved the successful removal and replacement of major components of the reactor and its associated equipment including pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder pipes, as well as inspection and upgrades of the Turbine Generator equipment.
According to an independent report by the Conference Board of Canada, the $12.8 billion project, and the subsequent 30 years of station operation, are expected to generate a total of $90 billion in economic benefits for Ontario and create 14,200 jobs per year. With 96 per cent of project costs spent in the province, for every $1 spent on the project, Ontario’s GDP will increase by an average of $1.40.
“Unit 1 is the third unit we will have refurbished months ahead of schedule, safely and with quality,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG President and CEO. “Through the planning, dedication, skill and innovation of OPG and its project partner team, including hundreds of skilled tradespeople, we are now in year 9 of this 10-year refurbishment project execution phase, clearly demonstrating we can complete large, complex nuclear projects on schedule and on budget.”
According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the province’s demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. Continued operation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station during that period will help tackle the rising demand while reducing emissions, taking the equivalent of two million cars off Ontario’s roads per year.
The Darlington Refurbishment Project is just one part of Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future, the government’s vision as it plans for rising energy demand, which includes:
- Energy Planning – Developing the province’s first integrated energy plan, including all energy resources, including electricity, natural gas, and other fuels to ensure the province’s energy needs are met in a coordinated and long-term manner.
- Nuclear Energy – Advancing clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power on the province’s first large-scale nuclear build in 30 years, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.
- New Transmission Infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators, including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.
- Keeping Costs Down – Launching new energy efficiency programs on January 1, 2025, which will build on the government’s $342 million expansion of existing energy efficiency programs that are helping families and businesses reduce electricity usage and save money on energy bills.
- Additional Competitive Procurements – Launching the largest competitive procurement of clean energy resources in the province’s history in addition to successfully re-contracting existing capacity resources at about a 30 per cent discount.