Ontario Power Generation Applies for Operating Licence for First BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor in G7 Country
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has submitted its application for a licence to operate the BWRX-300 small modular reactor at the Darlington New Nuclear Project — set to be the first SMR in a G7 country.
The Milestone
- Applicant: Ontario Power Generation
- Licence duration: 20 years
- Reactor: GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 (300 MWe)
- Location: Darlington, Ontario, Canada
- Significance: First SMR in a G7 nation
- Regulator: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Construction Progress
The project passed its first regulatory hold point — reactor building foundation installation — this week. This allows OPG to:
- Place the foundation for the reactor building
- Begin civil construction of reactor building structure
- Install internal civil structures, systems, and components
The next hold point: reactor pressure vessel installation.
About the BWRX-300
- Capacity: 300 MWe
- Type: Water-cooled, natural circulation SMR
- Safety: Passive safety systems (no active pumps needed for emergency cooling)
- Design basis: Leverages NRC-certified ESBWR design
- Fuel: Existing licensed GNF2 fuel design
- Manufacturer: GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Broader Context
This is the first new nuclear construction in Ontario in over three decades. OPG received a construction licence in April 2024 and plans up to four BWRX-300 units at Darlington.
The SMR represents a paradigm shift in nuclear energy — smaller, cheaper, and factory-manufacturable compared to traditional large reactors, potentially solving the industry's chronic cost and schedule overruns.