The proposed facility will feature an advanced virtual reality simulator and offer training capabilities.
The facility will provide engineering and technical support for the operation and maintenance of BWRX-300 SMRs in Ontario. Equipped with a virtual reality simulator, it will offer training for safe refueling and maintenance, develop advanced maintenance and inspection technologies, and plan reactor outages.
Heather Chalmers, President and CEO of GE Vernova Canada, stated: “The Canadian BWRX-300 Engineering and Service Centre will bolster Ontario’s position as a nuclear leader and further cultivate Canada’s nuclear energy workforce with an industry-leading training ecosystem.” The center will drive innovation, knowledge sharing, and workforce development, creating over 300 jobs and training more than 2,000 people annually.
Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, said: “Ontario is proud to lead the world in next-generation nuclear innovation, creating good-paying local jobs, training thousands of skilled workers and delivering clean, reliable power for decades to come.” The investment supports Ontario’s Energy for Generations plan for sustainable energy growth.
Ontario’s approval for the first of four BWRX-300 SMRs at Darlington marks it as the first G7 region to approve a grid-scale SMR, with construction of the first unit set for completion by 2030.
