Insider Brief
- The Ontario government has approved Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to begin construction of the first of four small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington nuclear site, the first of its kind in the G7.
- The four SMRs will generate 1,200 MW of clean electricity—enough to power 1.2 million homes—and support up to 18,000 jobs while contributing an estimated $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over 65 years.
- The project supports Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future plan, positioning the province as a global leader in SMR development while securing power for future residential and industrial growth.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has received final provincial approval to begin construction on North America’s first commercial, grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR), marking Ontario’s first new nuclear project in more than 30 years.
The reactor, part of the Darlington New Nuclear Project, will use the GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 design to generate 300 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity by 2030—enough to power 300,000 homes, according to OPG. The broader plan includes four SMRs with a total capacity of 1,200 MW to meet Ontario’s rising energy demand.
In a statement, Nicolle Butcher, OPG President and CEO, called the project “truly a historic moment,” highlighting its significance for job creation, economic growth, and clean energy. Over 65 years, the four SMRs are projected to contribute $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP, support 3,700 jobs annually, and generate $500 million yearly for Ontario’s supply chain, the company indicated, citing the Conference Board of Canada.
“With the province’s robust nuclear supply chain and our successful track record on nuclear projects, particularly our Darlington Refurbishment, we are confident we will be able to deliver the first SMR unit for Ontario, on-time and on-budget,” Butcher added.
OPG has already begun site preparation and secured major components like the 550-tonne reactor pressure vessel. The project will draw on lessons from OPG’s ongoing Darlington Refurbishment and involve more than 80 Ontario-based companies, the company said.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted OPG a construction license in April, and the project is backed by long-term planning to supply skilled labor, including hiring 700 new workers this year.
“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 in a statement. “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 Ontario government is supporting a $20.9 billion investment in the project, a sweeping initiative to construct four SMRs at the Darlington site east of Toronto. The budget includes site preparation, engineering, design, and the full build-out of all four units—making it the most ambitious nuclear development in Canada in decades.
In a move described by the government of Ontario as unprecedented in Canada’s nuclear history, OPG is working to establish an equity partnership with the Williams Treaties First Nations. If finalized, the agreement would mark the first time an Indigenous community has held equity in a nuclear energy generation project.
The first SMR is estimated to cost $6.1 billion, with an additional $1.6 billion allocated for shared systems and services across the fleet. As with the Darlington Refurbishment Project, costs are expected to decrease with each successive unit as engineering efficiencies are realized, the government noted..
OPG began site preparation for the first SMR in December 2022. In July 2023, the Ontario government approved the expansion to all four units, reinforcing the project’s central role in the province’s long-term energy plan.
To limit ratepayer impact, the government is exploring financing tools that could reduce costs for electricity consumers. In parallel, OPG continues to seek additional optimal financing strategies to support the project’s economic viability, according to the government.
