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2d ago

Ontario Begins Construction on Canada’s First Small Modular Reactor

The $20.9 billion Darlington project aims to deliver 1,200 MW of clean energy by 2030, marking a major milestone in Ontario's energy strategy.

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Different locations outside and around Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Bowmanville, in March 2025. 2025. Andrés Valenzuela/The Globe and Mail.
An aerial view of Ontario Power Generation's site for four small modular reactors, known as the Darlington New Nuclear Project. The provincial government has approved the start of construction for the first reactor, to be completed and providing power by 2030.
Ontario Power Generation signage is seen at a facility at the Darlington Power Complex, in Bowmanville, Ont., on May 31, 2019. The federal government's Canada Infrastructure Bank is putting nearly $1 billion toward the construction of the country's first small modular reactor, located at the site of an existing nuclear plant in Ontario.

Overview

  • Ontario Power Generation has started site work for the first of four small modular reactors (SMRs) at Darlington, with completion targeted for 2030.
  • The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved the project in April 2025, allowing excavation and early construction to begin this month.
  • The first reactor, costing $6.1 billion, will use GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 technology, with 80% of project spending benefiting Ontario-based companies.
  • The four reactors will collectively generate 1,200 MW of electricity, enough to power over one million homes, supporting Ontario’s growing energy demand.
  • The initiative is projected to create 18,000 jobs and contribute $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over its 65-year operational lifespan.