Concept Becomes Reality: How GE Vernova and OPG Are Writing the Next Chapter of Nuclear Power

As global energy demand grows and nations seek out lower-carbon, more secure power supply, next-generation nuclear can play an important role. Outside Bowmanville, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, Canada, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH), along with other collaborators, are laying the groundwork for the first of four BWRX-300s, a group of small modular reactors (SMRs) that will reliably and safely scale up the country's grid with 1.2 gigawatts of 24/7 carbon-free power. History is being made here at the Darlington nuclear facility: When construction of that first BWRX-300 is completed in 2029, it will be the first SMR in the western world.

The Darlington reactor is no "PowerPoint plant," the industry's jargon for SMR designs or unproven technologies that are just ideas on paper. The first BWRX-300 unit, which received approval to begin construction from the Province of Ontario and OPG in May, is a tangible, active project that will soon be a real power-generating asset.

At this stage, project team have completed early site preparation, paving the way for construction to begin. Now they're ready to lay high-strength steel and pour concrete. The fuel for the SMRs will be manufactured at Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), a GE Vernova led joint venture, in Wilmington, North Carolina, which has provided reliable and efficient BWR fuel for the nuclear industry since 1968.

The main components in the BWRX-300 have already proven themselves, too. The 300-megawatt reactor is a 10th-generation design, based on decades of real-world boiling water reactor operating experience and innovation, a fine-tuned delivery model, and GVH's extensive experience with cross-border regulatory collaboration. The reactor pressure vessel, the largest component of the BWRX-300, is being fabricated at supplier BWXT's manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Ontario.

Hear from the team: David Allingham (VP Components Business at BWXT) and Brian Johnson (Project Director at GE Vernova Hitachi).

In other words, this is really happening. The concept is becoming reality in Ontario.

The Darlington site will be a true pioneer for SMR technology. Countries such as the United States, Poland, and Sweden are seeking real, tangible solutions to enhance their energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and meet rising energy demands. The BWRX-300 can answer the call: the group of SMRs, once operational in Ontario, will deliver the equivalent reliable, carbon-free power needed to power more than a million homes.

Find out more about how the BWRX-300 small modular reactor is poised to power the future of cleaner energy here and here.

Forward-Looking Statements
This article contains forward-looking statements, which provide current expectations based on certain assumptions. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update these statements.