GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) plans to establish a Canadian BWRX-300 Engineering and Service Centre in Durham region near the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Darlington New Nuclear Project site. GVH intends to invest up to $50m on the facility, pending further development and construction of three additional units at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site. One unit is already under construction.
The planned facility will be used to provide engineering and technical services to support the long-term operation and maintenance of the anticipated fleet of BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMR) in Ontario. It will also serve as a hub for innovation and training, knowledge-sharing, supply chain engagement and workforce development. It is expected to draw up to 2,000 nuclear professionals, suppliers and international partners to Ontario, bringing significant economic benefits to the Durham region.
Plans for the service centre were announced during an event attended by Ontario Minister of Energy & Mines Stephen Lecce. “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,” said Heather Chalmers, President & CEO of GE Vernova Canada. “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.”
Stephen Lecce noted: “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. Construction t is scheduled to be completed by the end of the decade.
The centre will include a state-of-the-art virtual reality simulator and provide training capabilities to support safe and efficient SMR refueling and maintenance evolutions. The facility will develop advanced maintenance and inspection technologies tailored to the simpler SMR units and serve as an outage planning and execution preparation centre for BWRX-300 reactors.
Plans call for the engineering and service centre to be operational by the end of 2027 to support the deployment and servicing of a fleet of BWRX-300s. In addition to its nuclear business, the centre will have the capability to support other GE Vernova businesses, bringing further economic benefits to the Durham region.
