Ontario Nuclear Update - December, 2021

OVERKILL

$100 Site Donor 2021
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A couple important developments:

1. OPG has selected the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 as the first SMR to be constructed as part of Darlington B:

They've previously stressed that there would be more than one vendor, so it will be interesting to see what else will be built. This particular design is a 10th gen version of GE's BWR reactor, of which there are many around the world, but scaled down and with modular construction. Not much groundbreaking tech there, but it does mean it should be quick to build and bring online. They expect it to be online as soon as 2028, so only 6 years from now as we are rapidly coming into 2022.

2. Bruce Power has finished the steam generator replacement in Unit 6:
1640388437999.jpg

As I've previously noted, all eyes will be on Unit 6 when it returns to service, as it's expected to produce ~880MWe, while it went down producing ~820MWe. It should be the first unit to have its 5% derate limit removed if everything is in place to allow for that.

Developments at the A plant have also been progressing. Units 1 and 3 both came back at considerably higher output after their maintenance outages. Unit 1 was 779MWe, Unit 3 was 784MWe, both are now 816MWe. This is important, because all Bruce units, as I've discussed extensively in the past, are on a 5% derate, so this brings the A units up to ~860MWe once the derates are removed, which is critical for achieving the site goal of 7,000MWe.
 
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