Industrial Highlights | Ontario Greenlights North America's First Grid-Scale SMR

May 2025 – Energy & Engineering Brief

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has received final approval to construct North America's first commercial grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site. The project will utilize the BWRX-300 reactor design from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and is scheduled to commence operations by 2030 .

Project Overview

The Darlington SMR project represents the first new nuclear build in Ontario in over three decades. The BWRX-300 reactor is a 300-megawatt boiling water reactor that employs passive safety systems, allowing it to safely shut down without external power or operator intervention. This reactor is expected to provide electricity to approximately 300,000 homes .

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted OPG a license to construct the SMR in April 2025. The project is projected to cost CAD$7.7 billion for the first unit, with plans to build a total of four reactors at the site .

Key Stakeholders

Ontario Power Generation (OPG): A Crown corporation responsible for electricity generation in Ontario, leading the SMR project at Darlington.

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy: A joint venture between General Electric and Hitachi, providing the BWRX-300 reactor technology.

Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners: A partnership between Aecon and Kiewit Nuclear Canada, contracted for project management and construction execution .

Clad Plate Applications in SMR Projects

The construction and operation of SMRs involve various components that may benefit from the use of clad plates, which combine the strength of a base material with the corrosion resistance of a cladding material. Potential applications include:

Pressure Vessels: Clad plates can be used to construct reactor pressure vessels, providing resistance to high pressure and corrosive environments.

Heat Exchangers: In steam generators and other heat exchange systems, clad plates help withstand thermal stresses and corrosive fluids.

Columns and Towers: Used in auxiliary systems for gas treatment or chemical processing, where corrosion resistance is crucial.

Common Clad Plate Material Combinations

These combinations are selected based on the specific operational requirements, including temperature, pressure, and chemical exposure.

Economic and Industry Impact

The Darlington SMR project is expected to have significant economic benefits:

Job Creation: Up to 18,000 jobs during construction and an average of 3,700 jobs annually over 65 years of operation.

Economic Contribution: An estimated CAD$38.5 billion added to Canada's GDP over the operational lifespan of the reactors.

Supply Chain Engagement: Approximately 80% of the project spending is anticipated to go to companies across Ontario, bolstering the local economy .

Your Best Partner for Clad Plate & High Alloys: Fugo Tech

Nanjing Fugo New Material Tech Co., Ltd. (Fugo Tech) is an ISO 9001 and PED 2014/68/EU certified manufacturer specializing in Clad Material (Explosive Clad Plates & Rolled Clad Plate, Clad Bar & Clad Transition Joints) and Titanium, Nickel Alloy, and Stainless Steel products (Pipe/Fitting/Flange/Fastener) which are widely used in the Heat Exchanger, Pressure Vessel, Reactor, Column, Tower, and other process equipment.

Fugo Tech offers different material combinations of Clad Plate (Explosion-welded clad plate/composite plate & Rolled-welded clad plate/composite plate) , and also offers a wide range of materials, including Titanium, Nickel Alloy, Copper, Cu-Ni, and Stainless Steel, along with custom processing services (Tube Sheet drilling, Dish Head forming, and Overlay Welding) for Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Chemical,  Energy, Paper & Pulp, Marine, Shipbuilding, Environment, Metallurgy, and New Energy Vehicles, with a strong focus on high-performance Clad Plate & Titanium & Nickel Alloy & Stainless Steel solutions.

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