Canada’s Bruce Power has signed an exclusive agreement with Siemens Energy Canada for new high-pressure steam turbines for its Bruce A nuclear units. As part of Bruce Power’s Project 2030 and Life-Extension asset management projects, the upgrades are expected to increase output by more than 30 MWe per unit, delivering approximately 125 MWe of additional electricity to Ontario’s grid following the turbine replacements, to be completed between 2028 and 2031. This project builds on Bruce Power’s existing Strategic Alliance Agreement with Siemens Energy.
The eight pressurised heavy-water Candu reactor units at the Bruce site in Ontario (Bruce A – units 1-4, and Bruce B – units 4-8) began commercial operation between 1977 and 1987. Bruce Power’s CAD13bn ($10bn) Life Extension Programme, which includes Asset Management and Major Component Replacement (MCR), began in 2016. MCR, which began with unit 6 and also includes units 3-8, will extend the life of the site until 2064. Units 1&2 have already been refurbished and were returned to service in 2012. Work began on unit 3 in March 2023. Unit 6 was taken offline for the refurbishment in January 2020 and was returned to service in 2023. The Life-Extension Programme and MCR Projects will extend the operational life of each reactor by 30-35 years.
“Bruce Power’s project work is enhancing the safety, efficiency and reliability of our existing units and providing more clean energy for the people, homes, businesses and hospitals in Ontario,” said David Furr, Vice-President, Supply Chain. “Ontario’s nuclear advantage through robust operations, projects and supply chain, continues to deliver energy independence as we work to meet growing demand.”
Arne Wohlschlegel, Managing Director of Siemens Energy Canada said upgrading a power plant is the fastest way to get more energy onto the grid. “Each of our new high-pressure steam turbines adds an additional 30 megawatts of power output. When this upgrade is complete, Bruce Power will be able to deliver more clean energy throughout Ontario and extend the life of this plant for another 30 years.”
Siemens Energy has a significant footprint in Oakville and will support the project from its Port Elgin office which was established in 2019 to support the company’s long-term strategic partnership with Bruce Power. Project 2030 is the lowest cost option for adding significant new generation to the Ontario’s energy grid. It includes replacements and upgrades to optimise output from existing assets and projects. The company’s investment in a series of incremental power recovery projects under Project 2030 aims to increase annual power output to 7,000 MWe through the 2030s. Replacing turbines originally manufactured by CA Parsons (now Siemens Energy) ensures long-term reliability and will allow Bruce Power to meet future operational demands.
