The start of pre – development work by the province’s government at Bruce Power’s existing site with 4800 Mwe of new nuclear capacity, this would be Canada’s first large – scale nuclear construction in excess of 30 years.
Indication of a rising demand for electricity in Ontario for the first time since 2005, the government informed. Although planes are implemented to accommodate mounting demand in the current decade, last year, a report issued by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), predicting the province likely to require more than double its current capacity from 42,000 Mwe to 88,000 Mwe by 2050.
Recommended by IESO findings that Ontario commence siting, planning and environmental assessment effort for long – lead assets, nuclear power included, as a “no regret” achievement decarbonisation goals and increasing electricity demand, resulting from electrification, strong economic growth and a growing population beyond 2030.
Eight prevailing Candu reactors, produce roughly 30% of Ontario’s electricity, the company’s recommendation states, the site has room for “incremental infrastructure development.” Mike Rencheck president and CEO informs for decades nuclear power had been the “stable backbone” of electricity system of Ontario, to archive economic development goals and clean energy, long term planning and construction efforts will ensure a positive contribution. The planes will not hinder the company’s current program, of ensuring the sites operation until 2064
Todd Smith minister of Energy informs that Ontario’s “open for business approach” has led to “unprecedented” investments all throughout the province. With plans already formulated to confront demand this decade, initiating the pre – development work to cater to future generations options, including affordable, reliable and clean nuclear energy, powering the province into the future, he indicated.
Federal approval is the initial step in this process of approving and building new nuclear capacity that could take decade or longer, the government stated. Several years will be utilized for pre – development assessment, helping to evaluate the stability of the location by investigating the effect the new facility has on the public, environment and indigenous communities, with significant public contributions and community consultations. It is also a precondition for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commotion’s license procedure for such a reactor.
