OPG's Wesleyville site in the spotlight

OVERKILL

$100 Site Donor 2021
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Per my recent update, OPG now has three sites being considered for new nuclear, one of these is Wesleyville, which is somewhat unique in that it hosts a partially constructed oil plant, the twin to Lennox, that was cancelled just before completion due to the oil crisis.

A good friend of mine and former grid operator refers to it as the "cleanest smokestack in North America" having never been used.

OPG has now put together a page for the site, discussing the development options and partnerships:
https://www.opg.com/stories/opg-wor...e-new-nuclear-generation-at-wesleyville-site/

At 1,300 acres, it's larger than the Darlington site, but smaller than the sprawling Bruce Power complex. The site has been well maintained and while not turnkey (it would need an Environmental Assessment), would be quick to develop. Of course this also goes for the other two sites, Nanticoke and Lambton, both of which were active coal generating sites.

Wesleyville via Apple Maps:
Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 11.09.10 AM.webp

Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 11.09.42 AM.webp


And OPG's media announcement pic:
1736958564593.webp


You can see the two completed units to the East and the footprint of where the other two units, West of the Control Room (centre) were to be constructed. You can also see the inlets in the intake lagoon, the unit 1/2 smokestack and the base for the unit 3/4 smokestack to the West.

This "4-pack" arrangement is traditional Ontario Hydro, which we saw with not only their fossil stations but also the nuclear plants.

This would of course all be razed for construction of a new nuclear facility, but its interesting to see how well preserved the site is, having sat dormant for more than 40 years.

Technology choice is still up for debate. It is likely to be large reactors (not SMR's), but whether they will be CANDU Monark units or AP1000's is unknown. It is more likely for OPG (when compared to Bruce Power) to go with CANDU, but it's not guaranteed.

The EC6 design is turn-key, but at ~725MWe, it arguably too small for Ontario, where contingency plans are based around the loss of 2GW.
 
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Thanks Overkill...

You should see the media in Oz...the Coalition have put forward a nuclear future (piggybacking on our Nuke sub contract), and the antis are in full swing, making statements that the rest of the worls is moving away...while a little scratching show facts such as this.

I'm thinking that the need to install 4MW of renewables (5 with storage) is making a 5:1 impact in the nameplate rating of projects.

Certainly has swayed to all renewables argument "the coallition plan installs 48% LESS generation"...yes nameplate, not annual capacity.
 
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