PROJECT
09
Net Zero Needs Nuclear SMR deployment at the Darlington New Nuclear Site
Worldwide, we are facing a climate change crisis and need to mobilize every non-emitting power source including hydro, renewables, nuclear, carbon capture and storage. The evidence is clear, as stated by experts like the International Energy Agency – without nuclear power, there is no path to bringing the world’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. As more sectors of the Ontario economy, such as transportation, move toward electrification, there will be a growing demand for Ontario Power Generation’s clean power. OPG is preparing to meet this demand by advancing work for additional nuclear capacity at the Darlington site toward the end of this decade to provide low-carbon, reliable energy to support Ontario and Canada’s climate goals. New generation capacity at the Darlington site, in the form of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), will support OPG’s Climate Change Action Plan and companywide target to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040, and to enable others to reach Net Zero by 2050. SMRs offer the benefits of traditional nuclear reactors but are smaller in size and output, easier to build and operate.
They can help power remote communities that currently run on diesel generators, and industrial operations like mining sites. Each 300 MWe SMR would displace 1 megaton of CO2 emissions compared to natural gas, or 2 megatons compared to coal. OPG is uniquely positioned to lead new nuclear deployment because of their 50 years of nuclear expertise, strong track record of innovation, efficient operations, and project delivery and their diverse mix of generating assets. Without new nuclear, the opportunity for Canada to decarbonize is challenged.
CoE 2021: Electricity Innovation • Canadian Electricity association
21
