Unions, leaders praising Clarington nuclear plant return to service five months ahead of schedule

The accolades keep coming in for the team at Darlington Nuclear, which announced the completion of the refurbishment on Unit 1 five months ahead of schedule.

Returning Unit 1 to service provides 875 megawatts (MW) of reliable, affordable and clean power for the next 30-plus years – enough to power 875,000 homes.

“Ontario needs more electricity – 75 per cent more by 2050 – to power new homes, historic new investments and an electrifying economy,” said provincial Energy and Electrification Minister Stephen Lecce. “Delivering this massive clean energy project five months ahead of schedule is a testament to the incredible knowledge and skill of Ontario workers and positions us for success as we build out our plan to meet the soaring energy demand over the next 25 years.”

The $12.8 billion refurbishment project at the nuclear power plant in Clarington is one of Canada’s largest energy projects and involved the removal and replacement of major components of the reactor and its associated equipment including pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder pipes, as well as inspection and upgrades of the turbine generator equipment.

Unit 1 is the third of four units that have been successfully refurbished to date by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), with the overall project on-time and on-budget. Unit 4 is tracking to be completed by 2026.

Darlington Unit 2 refurbishment was completed in 2022 and Unit 3 work was finished last year.

“Unit 1 is the third unit we will have refurbished months ahead of schedule, safely and with quality,” said OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick. “Through the planning, dedication, skill and innovation of OPG and its project partner team, including hundreds of skilled tradespeople, we are now in year nine of this 10-year refurbishment project execution phase, clearly demonstrating we can complete large, complex nuclear projects on schedule and on budget.”

Darlington 1 was taken offline for inspections and maintenance on February 5, 2021 after a setting a world record 1,106 consecutive days of uninterrupted services, having been online since January 26, 2018.

“The champ is back,” enthused Christopher Adlam, co-founder of Canadians for Nuclear Energy last week. “The record holder for the longest uninterrupted run of a thermal plant in history … is back from refurbishment and ready to beat its own record!”

According to a report by the Conference Board of Canada, the project is expected to provide 30 more years of station operation, generate a total of $90 billion in economic benefits for Ontario and create 14,200 jobs per year. As well, with 96 per cent of project costs spent in the province, the report declared Ontario’s GDP will increase by an average of $1.40 for every dollar spent on the refurbishment.

“Nuclear has always been a vital part of Durham Region’s story. Our long-standing partnership with OPG has enabled our region to play a leadership role as the Clean Energy Capital of Canada,” said Durham Region Chair John Henry. “The successful refurbishment – and early completion – of Darlington Unit 1 is a testament to the world-class performance that happens in our region, and Ontario as a whole, every day.”

According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the province’s demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. That increasing demand stems primarily from Ontario’s rapidly growing population, new manufacturing facilities, advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, the increased electrification of industr, and the charging energy required for electric vehicles.

Continued operation of Darlington during that period will help tackle the rising demand while reducing emissions, taking the equivalent of two million cars off Ontario’s roads per year.

“As our province faces growing energy demands, this major milestone is a critical step in meeting our future needs while reducing emissions and creating thousands of good-paying jobs … and positioning Ontario as a leader in the electrified economy of tomorrow,” noted Whitby MPP Lorne Coe.

The refurbishment of Unit 1 was completed by approximately 6,000 Ontario workers over the course of the project, including project management, support services and skilled tradespeople. At least 16 different unions were involved, from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners to the Laborers International Union of North America and the Power Workers Union.

“The successful refurbishment of Unit 1 is a good news story for Ontario adding almost 900 MW of reliable clean electricity to the system for the next 30 years,” said Power Workers Union President Jeff Parnell. “Nuclear power is the backbone of Ontario’s clean electricity system, providing secure, affordable and zero emission baseload electricity to Ontario.

Messages of congratulations also came in from the Boilermakers, LiUNA and other organizations who worked on the project, as well as the Clarington Board of Trade, who see the project as “vital” to support Ontario’s future.

“This milestone not only reinforces our province’s commitment to clean, reliable power but also boosts economic growth right here in Clarington and beyond,” said board Executive director Bonnie Wrightman. “Our local economy has enjoyed the benefits of welcoming thousands of workers serving the project in Clarington over the years. The impact of this project will be felt for generations, powering homes and businesses while positioning Ontario as a leader in clean energy innovation.”

Nuclear power currently provides more than 50 per cent of Ontario’s electricity supply and has positioned Ontario as one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world. Darlington alone generates more than over 20 per cent of Ontario’s electricity needs – enough energy to power two million homes.

The new life for the four reactors and the four 300-megawatt small modular reactors set for construction (to be connected to the grid sometime between 2034 and 2036) at the Clarington nuclear plant are expected to serve as a catalyst for the next zero-emission economy.