Nuclear

Canada to fund $50 million to assess Ontario nuclear expansion

Bruce Power is currently evaluating the potential for an additional 4,800 MW at its nuclear site in Ontario.
Canada to fund $50 million to assess Ontario nuclear expansion

Canada is investing up to $50 million in Bruce Power’s assessment of new nuclear generation opportunities at its site near Tiverton, Ontario. This funding was announced by the country’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

At Ontario’s request, Bruce Power currently is going through a federal impact assessment process to evaluate the potential for an additional 4,800 MW in a project referred to as Bruce C.

Although no decision has been made to advance a new build, Bruce Power said the multi-year assessment is an important step to support future electricity planning and allow faster execution if a decision is made to proceed.

Bruce Power will use the new funding to support project pre-development work, including the completion of an Impact Assessment and License to Prepare Site application; early engagement activities with local municipalities and Indigenous communities; and technical, environmental and engineering studies and evaluations.

This project is part of Powering Ontario’s Growth, the province’s plan to meet growing electricity demand and reduce emissions. Canada said the plan is an important step in building the first large-scale nuclear build in the country in more than 30 years.

The potential expansion represents more than 25% of the new nuclear capacity required for Ontario to meet its clean electricity needs in 2050, as recommended by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator’s Pathways to Decarbonization Report, which indicates that as much as 17,800 MW of nuclear capacity could be required in Ontario to meet its clean electricity needs in 2050.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are working together on the Canada-Ontario Regional Table collaboration framework, with priorities that include advancing the nuclear industry in Ontario, along with joint actions on electrification, critical minerals, hydrogen, and the forest sector, as well an improved permitting process and increased regulatory effectiveness and efficiency to get clean energy projects online in time to meet rising demand.

Bruce Power supplies 30 percent of Ontario’s electricity on its 2,300-acre site, which it said has significant space for expansion.