Canada's OPG Applies for Operating Licence for First BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor in a G7 Country

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has submitted its application for a 20-year operating licence for the first BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario, Canada.

The Milestone

• Applicant: Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
• Reactor: GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 (300 MWe)
• Licence: 20-year operating licence
• Location: Darlington Nuclear Station, Ontario, Canada
• Significance: Would be the first SMR in a G7 country

Construction Progress

OPG already holds a construction licence with three regulatory hold points:

1. ✅ Reactor building foundation — Hold point lifted (April 2026)
2. ⏳ Reactor pressure vessel installation — Next hold point
3. ⏳ Additional systems — Final hold point

About the BWRX-300

• Capacity: 300 MWe
• Design: Water-cooled, natural circulation SMR
• Safety: Passive safety systems (no active pumps needed for shutdown)
• Basis: Derives from NRC-certified ESBWR design
• Fuel: Uses existing licensed GNF2 fuel design
• Developer: GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy

Context

• This will be the first new nuclear build in Ontario in 30+ years
• OPG plans four BWRX-300 units total at Darlington
• Construction licence was received in April 2024
• The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will hold a public hearing before deciding

Global SMR Race

The Darlington project is one of several SMR initiatives worldwide:

• Poland: Companies teaming up for regional SMR deployment
• New England: Governors uniting to support nuclear development
• UK: Hunterston B transferred to government ownership
• China: Lianjiang unit 2 reactor vessel installed
• Belarus: Set for role in Smolensk nuclear construction