CLARINGTON – Ontario is announcing the completion of the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station five months ahead of schedule, marking a significant milestone in the province’s plan to tackle soaring demand for energy. Refurbishing and returning Unit 1 to service provides 875 megawatts (MW) of reliable, affordable and clean power for the next 30-plus years, enough to power 875,000 homes.
“Ontario needs more electricity – 75 per cent more by 2050 – to power new homes, historic new investments and an electrifying economy,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Delivering this massive clean energy project five months ahead of schedule is a testament to the incredible knowledge and skill of Ontario workers and positions us for success as we build out our plan to meet the soaring energy demand over the next 25 years.”
The Darlington Refurbishment Project is one of Canada’s largest energy projects. The refurbishment of Unit 1 involved the successful removal and replacement of major components of the reactor and its associated equipment including pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder pipes, as well as inspection and upgrades of the Turbine Generator equipment.
According to an independent report by the Conference Board of Canada, the $12.8 billion project, and the subsequent 30 years of station operation, are expected to generate a total of $90 billion in economic benefits for Ontario and create 14,200 jobs per year. With 96 per cent of project costs spent in the province, for every $1 spent on the project, Ontario’s GDP will increase by an average of $1.40.
“Unit 1 is the third unit we will have refurbished months ahead of schedule, safely and with quality,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG President and CEO. “Through the planning, dedication, skill and innovation of OPG and its project partner team, including hundreds of skilled tradespeople, we are now in year 9 of this 10-year refurbishment project execution phase, clearly demonstrating we can complete large, complex nuclear projects on schedule and on budget.”
According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the province’s demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. Continued operation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station during that period will help tackle the rising demand while reducing emissions, taking the equivalent of two million cars off Ontario’s roads per year.
The Darlington Refurbishment Project is just one part of Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future, the government’s vision as it plans for rising energy demand, which includes:
Energy Planning – Developing the province’s first integrated energy plan, including all energy resources, including electricity, natural gas, and other fuels to ensure the province’s energy needs are met in a coordinated and long-term manner.
Nuclear Energy – Advancing clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power on the province’s first large-scale nuclear build in 30 years, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.
New Transmission Infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators, including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.
Keeping Costs Down – Launching new energy efficiency programs on January 1, 2025, which will build on the government’s $342 million expansion of existing energy efficiency programs that are helping families and businesses reduce electricity usage and save money on energy bills.
Additional Competitive Procurements – Launching the largest competitive procurement of clean energy resources in the province’s history in addition to successfully re-contracting existing capacity resources at about a 30 per cent discount.
Quick Facts
The Darlington Refurbishment Project will secure 3,500 megawatts of reliable, low cost, and emissions-free power for an additional 30 years.
Unit 1 is the third of four units that have been successfully refurbished to date by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), with the overall project tracking on-time and on-budget. Unit 4 is tracking to be completed by 2026.
The refurbishment of Unit 1 was completed by approximately 6000 Ontario workers over the course of the project, including project management, support services and skilled tradespeople. This includes members of:
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (Boilermakers)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (Carpenters)
Brick and Allied Craft Union of Canada
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Canadian Union of Skilled Workers
Insulators
Ironworkers and Rodmen
LiUNA – Laborers International Union of North America
UBC Millwrights
International Union of Operating Engineers
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Sheetmetal and Roofers
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
United Association of Pipefitters
The Power Workers’ Union
The Society of United Professionals
The IESO has confirmed that increasing demand stems primarily from Ontario’s rapidly growing population, new manufacturing facilities, advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, the electrification of industry, and the charging energy required for electric vehicles.
Nuclear power currently provides more than 50 per cent of Ontario’s electricity supply and has positioned Ontario as one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world.
Quotes
"This refurbishment means Clarington is at the heart of Ontario’s clean energy future, supporting thousands of skilled jobs while powering homes for decades to come. Our government’s investment here is crucial not only for meeting Ontario’s energy needs but also for driving economic growth and environmental progress right here in Durham, benefiting families and businesses across our region."
- Todd McCarthy
MPP, Durham
"We are thrilled to see the completion of the refurbishment of Unit 1 at Darlington, a vital project supporting Ontario’s energy future. This milestone not only reinforces our province’s commitment to clean, reliable power but also boosts economic growth right here in Clarington and beyond. Our local economy has enjoyed the benefits of welcoming thousands of workers serving the project in Clarington over the years. The impact of this project will be felt for generations, powering homes and businesses while positioning Ontario as a leader in clean energy innovation."
- Bonnie Wrightman
Executive Director, Clarington Board of Trade
"Completing the Refurbishment of Unit #1 adds to the incredible history and success of our uniquely Canadian CANDU units. While foreign nuclear technologies routinely share a reputation of ballooning costs and exceeding schedules, Ontario Power Generation stands in contrast and has demonstrated its world leading nuclear expertise, further affirming the confidence that Ontario has in its CANDU units to provide affordable, clean, reliable baseload electricity for the province. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers congratulates OPG, and the vendors, along with the men and women of the various skilled trades that came through and completed this project ahead of schedule. The timing couldn’t be better as Minister Lecce and Premier Ford work with other strong Canadian decision makers to chart a path that will put the ratepayers first and provide decades of low-cost energy to families and businesses alike. Ontario has proven that we can successfully tackle these mega-projects confident in knowing just what expanding on our Canadian nuclear advantage can do and will do for the economic growth of our province."
- Jonathan White
Director, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
"The successful refurbishment of Unit 1 is a good news story for Ontario adding almost 900 MW of reliable clean electricity to the system for the next 30 years. Nuclear power is the backbone of Ontario’s clean electricity system, providing secure, affordable and zero emission baseload electricity to Ontario. The highly skilled and highly trained members of the Power Workers’ Union take tremendous pride in our commitment to the safe and affordable refurbishment and operation of the station."
- Jeff Parnell
President, Power Workers’ Union
"The Darlington Nuclear Generating Station project marks a significant milestone in our governments plan to utilize clean and affordable energy in Ontario. Not only does this effort lower energy costs, but it also supports electrification and creates more than 14,200 jobs annually, putting money back into the pockets of residents in Ajax and the Durham Region. Our government remains committed to fostering a state-of-the-art power grid for Ontario’s growing energy needs."
- Patrice Barnes
MPP, Ajax
"Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone and we’re so honoured to have been involved in delivering CANDU life extensions safely and efficiently. As the original equipment manufacturer of CANDU technology; our in-depth knowledge of OPG’s processes and operating model, stemming from decades of collaboration, and working hand-in-hand with our joint venture partner Aecon, means we have extensive familiarity with the plant and its operator. As a result, we were able to deliver a world-first innovation during Darlington’s refurbishment: removing calandria tubes and pressure tubes from the CANDU reactors in one extraction instead of two and speeding up the project’s timeline. With success at Darlington, we are proving that complex, multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects can be completed on time and on budget in Ontario."
- Gary Rose
EVP, Life Extensions and Reactor Services, Nuclear, Canada, AtkinsRéalis
"Driven by unwavering execution excellence, the completion of the Darlington Unit 1 refurbishment ahead of schedule is an exceptional achievement and I would like to congratulate the entire project team for reaching this remarkable milestone with world-class safety, quality and schedule performance. Aecon is proud of its role as the Canadian constructor on this historic project that will help meet the growing energy demands of future generations in Ontario. We look forward to continuing to successfully implement unit-over-unit lessons learned to deliver this critical refurbishment program – leveraging the proven one team approach between Aecon, AtkinsRéalis and OPG."
- Thomas Clochard
Executive Vice President, Nuclear and Civil, Aecon Group Inc.
"LiUNA Members are vital to powering our clean energy economy forward, contributing their skillset to Canada's largest clean energy projects. The Darlington Refurbishment which today announced completion ahead of schedule, will secure 3,500 megawatts of reliable, low cost, and emissions-free power for an additional 30 years. Under the leadership of Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce and the Ford government, Ontario is a global leader in clean, reliable energy powered by a skilled workforce to move us forward. Labour, industry and government share in our commitment to safety and quality, working with industry partners like Ontario Power Generation and the many suppliers involved to reach this milestone. As Canada’s largest building trades union, we are committed to working in collaboration to build, connect and power infrastructure necessary to fuel Ontario’s clean energy economy for today and for our future."
- Joseph Mancinelli
Vice President and Regional Manager of Central and Eastern Canada, LiUNA International
"Nuclear has always been a vital part of Durham Region’s story. Our long-standing partnership with OPG has enabled our Region to play a leadership role as the Clean Energy Capital of Canada. The successful refurbishment—and early completion—of Darlington Unit 1 is a testament to the world-class performance that happens in our Region, and Ontario as a whole, every day. It will create new jobs, drive economic growth, and produce enough energy to power 875,000 homes for 30 years in the Durham Region – well done."
- John Henry
Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Regional Municipality of Durham
"Under the collaborative leadership of OPG and the Ontario government, we will continue to provide safe and high-quality services to contribute to the ongoing success of these critical projects. As One Team, the partnership created by OPG will meet the power demands today and into the future for all Ontarians. Congratulations to OPG and to all the dedicated workers who make these accomplishments possible."
- Mark Healy
Regional VP, Black & McDonald
"BWXT congratulates Ontario Power Generation on the successful completion of the Darlington Unit 1 refurbishment. The Darlington Refurbishment Project is an important investment in the province's clear energy future that will provide reliable emissions-free power for Ontarians for years to come. This recent milestone could not have been achieved without a continued spirit of collaboration and a relentless pursuit of project excellence. As part of the project team, BWXT is proud to have played a significant role in this recent achievement and we look forward to continued collaboration."
- John Mac
QuarriePresident, BWXT Commercial Operations
"As our province faces growing energy demands, this major milestone is a critical step in meeting our future needs while reducing emissions and creating thousands of good-paying jobs. With the early completion of the Unit 1 refurbishment at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, five months ahead of schedule, our Government is efficiently securing Ontario’s energy future while also strengthening our economy by investing in clean energy infrastructure, driving growth, and positioning our province as a leader in the electrified economy of tomorrow."
- Lorne Coe
MPP, Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier
"The Society of United Professionals is proud of all the workers who managed this complex project. The successful completion of the Darlington Unit 1 refurbishment represents the hard work, ingenuity and dedication of the professionals who ensured that the project arrived on budget and on schedule. This project once again shows that Ontario’s energy professionals are prepared to tackle the major work ahead as we move to dramatically expand our nuclear infrastructure."
- Michelle Johnston
President, Society of United Professionals
"The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario is proud of the work done by Ontario's skilled trades workforce to contribute to the refurbishment on Unit 1, safely and ahead of schedule. Nuclear power is an essential part of the energy mix to meet the province’s long-term plans to create good jobs and grow the economy with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity and the Building Trades is proud to be a part of that."
- Marc Arsenault
Business Manager, Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
Additional Resources
Learn about Ontario’s plan to provide families and industries with reliable, low-cost and clean power.
Learn more about small modular reactor technology and how it can help build Ontario’s future in the global nuclear market.
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