Bruce Power announced that it will be launching a Request for Information (RFI) process in early 2024 to evaluate potential new nuclear technologies as part of its preliminary engagement and long-term review of expanding nuclear generation on the Bruce Power site.
The company also announced the establishment of an Advisory Panel including business, industry and labour leadership to review the critical areas of economic development and partnerships, supply chain and workforce in the long-term outlook for Ontario’s nuclear sector.
“Ontario is a global leader when it comes to having a deeply decarbonized electricity grid, thanks in large part to nuclear, and continuing to deliver our Life-Extension Program on time and on budget is a core focus for Bruce Power to ensure the province can continue to benefit from its nuclear advantage,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO. “Looking ahead and evaluating the potential for new nuclear capacity creates a valuable option for the province in future electricity planning. We will carry out this evaluation with a focus on Indigenous and community engagement, a comprehensive technology review and exploring economic development, supply chain and workforce opportunities.”
The company’s approach to supporting the role of the Bruce Power site in the province’s Powering Ontario’s Growth plan will be based on the following five principles:
- Extend the operation of the eight Bruce Power operating units to continue producing clean energy and cancer-fighting isotopes through 2064 and beyond.
- Through the Life-Extension Program and Project 2030 investments, increase net peak output of the existing units to 7,000 megawatts (MW) for the 2030s – equivalent to adding a large-scale reactor with current infrastructure.
- Pursue an Impact Assessment (IA) as a planning tool to evaluate the potential for an additional 4,800 MW at the Bruce Power site and commit to open and transparent engagement with Indigenous communities, the local tri-county region and the public prior to any decision-making.
- Undertake a robust technology review process to provide sound guidance for potential future decisions and milestones.
- Position economic development/partnerships, localization, supply chain and workforce development as key priorities in development, especially in rural communities.
With the company’s Major Component Replacement (MCR) projects progressing successfully, on budget and on schedule, the Bruce Power site was selected for a new build evaluation in July as part of the Powering Ontario’s Growth plan. This was based on the company’s strong track-record as Canada’s largest private investor in nuclear technology, its excellent safety record, a large geographic site with multiple existing transmission corridors and the cost-competitive, reliable and clean supply of electricity that Bruce Power nuclear generation provides.
Through the RFI process announced Nov. 21, Bruce Power is taking a prudent step to further evaluate nuclear technologies. Bruce Power is undertaking technology evaluation in parallel with the IA process, which will use a technology neutral approach, to consider multiple nuclear technologies and provide options to the province in long-term electricity system planning.
“With our plan already in place to meet demand this decade, we are working with Bruce Power to start pre-development work that will support future generation options, including reliable, affordable and clean nuclear energy, that will power our province into the future,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy. “I’m pleased to see Bruce Power taking this prudent step to evaluate nuclear technologies that demonstrate value for ratepayers, have the greatest potential to stimulate the Ontario economy and that can be constructed within a timeline that meets Ontario’s clean electricity demands.”
Bruce Power is also collaborating with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to develop a feasibility study for potential future nuclear generation elsewhere in Ontario, that will leverage information from the RFI. The feasibility study will be completed by the end of 2024.
In addition, Bruce Power is launching an Advisory Panel that will consist of business, industry and labour leadership and present a report to Bruce Power on key items for consideration in parallel with the RFI timetable. The advisory panel will consist of:
- Marc Arsenault, Business Manager, The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
- Guy Lonechild, President & CEO, First Nations Power Authority
- Jeff Beach, President & CEO, Asthma Canada
- Michelle Branigan, Chief Executive Officer, Electricity Human Resources Canada
- Dennis Darby, President & CEO, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
- Michelle Johnston, President, Society of United Professionals
- Jessica Linthorne, COO, Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII)
- Jeff Parnell, President, Power Workers’ Union
- Daniel Tisch, Incoming CEO of Ontario Chamber of Commerce
- Bill Walker, President, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI)
- Terry Young, former interim President & CEO, IESO
Exploring the advancement of large new nuclear for the first time in a generation is an undertaking that requires long-term planning, open and transparent engagement with Indigenous communities and the broader region, and a robust process building on lessons learned from Bruce Power’s Life-Extension program and the last 20 years of worldwide GEN3+ nuclear power plant construction before any decision is made to proceed.
Although no decision has been made to advance with a new build project, conducting the Bruce C IA in an open and transparent manner is an important pre-requisite to any future decisions.
About Bruce Power
Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable nuclear power to families and businesses across the province and cancer-fighting medical isotopes around the world. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is a Canadian-owned partnership of TC Energy, OMERS, the Power Workers’ Union and The Society of United Professionals. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
