Wedoany.com Report-Jun 27, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy has announced plans to establish a BWRX-300 Engineering and Service Centre in Durham, Ontario, to support its operations in Wilmington, North Carolina. The company plans to invest up to USD50 million in the facility, contingent on the development and construction of three additional BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) units at Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington New Nuclear Project site.

Set to be operational by the end of 2027, the centre will provide engineering and technical services to ensure the long-term operation and maintenance of BWRX-300 SMRs in Ontario. It will also serve as a hub for innovation, training, knowledge-sharing, supply chain engagement, and workforce development. The facility will feature a cutting-edge virtual reality simulator and offer training programs to support safe and efficient SMR refueling and maintenance. Additionally, it will develop advanced maintenance and inspection technologies tailored for the simplified SMR design and act as a preparation centre for outage planning and execution.

The announcement follows the Ontario government’s approval for OPG to begin construction of the first of four BWRX-300 units at the Darlington site, with completion expected by the end of the decade. The BWRX-300, a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems, is based on the design and licensing of GE Hitachi’s ESBWR boiling water reactor.

Heather Chalmers, president and CEO of GE Vernova Canada, stated: “The Canadian BWRX-300 Engineering and Service Centre will bolster Ontario’s position as a nuclear leader and further cultivate Canada’s nuclear energy workforce with an industry-leading training ecosystem. This Ontario-based hub will provide the province with continued access to the best and brightest talent and innovation in the nuclear energy industry while complementing global efforts for deploying the BWRX-300.”

Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, remarked: “Ontario is proud to lead the world in next-generation nuclear innovation, creating good-paying local jobs, training thousands of skilled workers and delivering clean, reliable power for decades to come. By locking in this investment from GE Vernova we are reinforcing our plan to make Ontario a clean energy superpower where our workers build with Canadian materials, operate with Canadian expertise and export the clean technology the world needs.”

This initiative strengthens Ontario’s role in advancing clean energy solutions, fostering job creation, and supporting the global deployment of innovative nuclear technology.