Candu Energy Inc., an AtkinsRéalis company has been awarded a $450 million execution contract by Ontario Power Generation for the first of four planned small modular reactor (SMR) units at the Darlington New Nuclear Project. The 300 MW BWRX-300 small modular reactor is being delivered to OPG in Durham Region, east of Toronto.1
AtkinsRéalis is to provide Ontario Power Group with the engineering of the SMR. This includes project management, licensing, engineering, design, procurement, construction support and commissioning, as well as digital delivery capabilities in both the nuclear island and balance of plant scopes for the project.
Project completion is schedule for 2030.
AtkinsRéalis has been the architect-engineer on the Darlington New Nuclear Project alliance team since 2023. The company is working alongside GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners. The site preparation work undertaken under an earlier validation phase contract has been completed on time and on budget. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has issued a licence to construct the SMR, and the Ontario government has also given its final approval for construction of the first of four planned units at the site.
“Ontario’s power demand is expected to surge 75% by 2050 and we will need all sources of cleaner power to meet the need, including large and small nuclear reactor technology,” said Joe St. Julian, president, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis.
