GVH plans Canadian BWRX-300 engineering and service centre

GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy said it intends to invest up to USD50 million in the facility, pending further development and construction of three additional BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) units at Ontario Power Generation's (OPG's) nearby Darlington New Nuclear Project site. 

The planned facility - to be operational by the end of 2027 - will be used to provide engineering and technical services to support the long-term operation and maintenance of the anticipated fleet of BWRX-300 SMRs in Ontario. It will also serve as a hub for innovation and training, knowledge-sharing, supply chain engagement and workforce development.

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.

The announcement follows the Ontario government's approval for OPG to proceed with construction of the first of four BWRX-300s at the Darlington site. Construction of the first unit is scheduled to be completed by the end of the decade.

"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 and 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."

"Ontario is proud to lead the world in next-generation nuclear innovation, creating good-paying local jobs, training thousands of skilled workers and delivering clean, reliable power for decades to come," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “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 BWRX-300 design is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of the ESBWR boiling water reactor developed by GE Hitachi.