Thursday, May 8, 2025
The Government of Ontario has approved Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) plan to begin construction on the first of four small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington nuclear site.
Once complete, this SMR will be the first of its kind in the G7, producing enough reliable, affordable and clean electricity to power the equivalent of 300,000 homes, supporting thousands of good-paying jobs across the province and helping secure Ontario’s energy supply for decades to come.
“This is a historic day for Canada as we start construction on the first small modular reactor in the G7, creating 18,000 jobs for Canadians,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “This nation-building project being built right here in Ontario will be led by Canadian workers using Canadian steel, concrete and materials to help deliver the extraordinary amount of reliable and clean power we will need to deliver on our ambitious plan to protect Ontario and unleash our economy.”
The province has worked with OPG to ensure that 80 per cent of project spending goes to Ontario companies and that construction and operations will protect Ontario workers and jobs by sustaining an estimated 3,700 highly-skilled, good-paying jobs for the next 65 years.
In April, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission issued its approval for construction to begin.
“As the first mover on SMRs, this made-in-Ontario project will create jobs for the province’s workers, contracts for Ontario’s booming supply chain, and showcase our capabilities and expertise to the world to further grow our domestic industry while strengthening Canada’s energy security. As we saw through the refurbishment project, building a fleet of SMRs with the support of Ontario’s strong nuclear supply chain will provide further opportunities to learn, identify efficiencies, and expand the supply chain. All of this invaluable, irreplaceable experience will prepare us to take on the next large nuclear project,” said Nicolle Butcher, president and CEO, OPG.
The BWRX-300 is a small-scale nuclear reactor that uses commercially available uranium to generate power. The four SMRs will be vital to powering new homes, historic investments to build Ontario and fuel a thriving economy. Once complete, they will produce 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes, to help bridge a power gap that could emerge in the early 2030s in the absence of net-new baseload power sources added to the grid.
More than eighty Ontario companies have already signed agreements with OPG to deliver this first-of-a-kind project, establishing themselves as leaders in the growing domestic and global markets for new nuclear technologies. The government has also negotiated additional commitments from GE Hitachi that will create jobs in Ontario, that will soon be unveiled.
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) concluded that the Darlington New Nuclear Project is the best option to meet growing demand in terms of costs and risks, when compared against non-emitting generation alternatives. This, combined with OPG’s track-record on the Darlington Refurbishment Project (No. 4 on ReNew Canada’s 2025 Top100 Projects report), factored into the government’s decision to support the Darlington New Nuclear Project.
“This is a proud moment for GE Vernova Hitachi and Ontario as we move from vision to reality with construction of the G7’s first SMR, the BWRX-300. With dozens of Ontario-based suppliers contributing to this project, we’re not just building a reactor—we’re generating thousands of good-paying jobs, driving investment into communities across the province, and reinforcing Ontario’s global leadership in clean energy technology. That leadership is already opening doors to international export opportunities for Ontario companies, helping position our province as a global hub for next-generation nuclear innovation. GE has been part of Canada’s nuclear story from the very beginning, and we’re honoured to carry that legacy forward by delivering a made-in-Ontario solution that strengthens our economy and powers our future,” said Lisa McBride, country leader, GE Vernova Hitachi SMR Canada.
Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners, a general partnership between Aecon and Kiewit Nuclear Canada has been awarded an alliance construction contract by OPG for the execution phase on the Darlington New Nuclear Project.
The project is being delivered under an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model. During the execution phase, Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners will work collaboratively with partners OPG (owner and licence holder), GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and AtkinsRéalis to deliver North America’s first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor.
Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners’ scope of work during the execution phase includes project management, construction planning and execution, with completion and commercial operation expected in 2030.
“OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project is a trailblazing undertaking – leading the way in delivering the next generation of nuclear plants across North America and internationally,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, president and CEO, Aecon Group Inc. “Aecon is proud to bring its diverse nuclear expertise and multidisciplinary capabilities to play a prominent role in safely executing this exciting project to meet the energy demands of future generations in Ontario.”
“Backed by over five decades of nuclear experience and the collective capacity of our project team, we are well positioned to successfully execute the next phase of this clean energy project with a steadfast commitment to safety, quality, schedule and cost performance,” said Aaron Johnson, senior vice president, Nuclear, Aecon Group Inc. “Aecon continues to pursue strategic growth across a full spectrum of nuclear opportunities spanning large-scale new builds, SMRs, and life extension programs in existing and target priority markets.”
Featured image: The Darlington New Nuclear Project site, future home of North America’s first Small Modular Reactor. (OPG)
