Wedoany.com Report-Jun 3, AtkinsRéalis subsidiary Candu Energy has secured a C$450 million contract from Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to construct the first of four planned small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, located 70km east of Toronto on Lake Ontario’s shore. The 300MW BWRX-300 unit, scheduled for completion in 2030, is expected to power 300,000 homes and be the first operational SMR among G7 nations.

North America’s first small modular reactor will be built at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station on the shore of Lake Ontario around 70km east of Toronto

Operated by OPG, a provincially owned power company, the Darlington site currently hosts four Candu reactors with a combined capacity of 3.5GW. AtkinsRéalis will oversee project management, licensing, engineering, design, procurement, construction support, and commissioning for the new SMR. The company has been the architect-engineer for the Darlington New Nuclear Project since 2023, collaborating with GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners. Site preparation, completed under a prior validation-phase contract, was delivered on time and within budget.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted a construction license for the first SMR in April, with final approval from the Ontario government on May 8. Ian L. Edwards, president and chief executive of AtkinsRéalis, said: “Our involvement in the G7’s first grid-scale SMR and Canada’s first nuclear new build in roughly 30 years reaffirms our leading position in the global nuclear energy market, for both large and small reactor technologies.”

Joe St. Julian, president of nuclear at AtkinsRéalis, stated: “Ontario’s power demand is expected to surge by 75% by 2050 and we’ll need all sources of cleaner power to meet the need, including large and small nuclear reactor technology.” The project aligns with efforts to meet rising energy demands through sustainable solutions, supporting Ontario’s growing electricity needs with advanced nuclear technology.

The Darlington SMR initiative strengthens the region’s energy infrastructure, leveraging AtkinsRéalis’ expertise to deliver reliable, low-carbon power while advancing innovation in the global nuclear sector.