GE Vernova Hitachi gets green light to start building Darlington SMR
Pamela Largue
Posted on: 9 May 2025
GE Vernova Hitachi has received approval from the Province of Ontario and OPG to proceed with deployment of an SMR at the Darlington nuclear site.
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy has received approval from the Province of Ontario and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to proceed with deployment of a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington nuclear site in Ontario, Canada.
According to a release, early site preparation has been completed and construction is expected to begin in the near future.
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy will be deploying its BWRX-300, which is built on a standard design to reduce the cost and complexity associated with development. Each reactor will provide approximately 300MW of electricity, enough to produce the equivalent electricity needed to power 300,000 homes.
“The experience and efficiencies gained from deploying the first BWRX-300 at Darlington alongside OPG and our other partners will pave the way for subsequent SMR projects by establishing a proven model for construction and operation,” said Craig Ranson, president & CEO of GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
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“The standardized design and modular approach of the BWRX-300 enable economies of scale, making it easier and more cost-effective to replicate the construction process at other sites.”
OPG is the first utility to commit to building a BWRX-300, a project that will serve as a benchmark for other utilities considering SMR projects. Successful deployment at Darlington will help demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of SMRs, encouraging broader adoption and investment in this transformative technology.
Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, commented on the news: "This is a hugely significant moment for the future of SMRs and shows that countries are serious about building out their nuclear power programmes. It paves the way for more countries to develop their own SMR projects, so it's vital that decisions in the UK are taken soon, to avoid us falling behind in the global push for energy security, clean power and jobs that SMRs, alongside large-scale nuclear, bring.”
In April this year, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced its decision to issue a power reactor construction license to OPG to construct the BWRX-300 reactor at its Darlington site.
The Commission concluded that OPG is qualified to construct the SMR and will do so “in a way that protects the health and safety of people and the environment.”
The power reactor construction license is valid until March 31, 2035. The license includes four facility-specific license conditions that, along with the standard license conditions, will enable effective regulatory oversight of the licensed activities.
