GE Hitachi – Celebrating 30 Years
When Ontario Power Generation (OPG) launched its selection process for a small modular reactor (SMR) technology, the stakes extended well beyond provincial borders. At issue was not just which vendor would build Canada’s first grid-scale SMR, but how the country might position itself in the global energy transition.
The challenge was complex. Competing technologies offered varying levels of readiness, scalability, and regulatory compatibility. Policymakers at both the federal and provincial levels needed to assess long-term risks and benefits—often with limited time and technical context. Traditional engagement channels were narrow, and political sensitivities around foreign ownership and influence added another layer of complexity.
Rather than focusing narrowly on technical specifications, the strategy that emerged reframed the question: What should government be optimizing for in choosing a nuclear technology? The answer lay in a clear set of criteria—project de-risking, export potential, regulatory familiarity, and the capacity to anchor a domestic supply chain. When aligned against these priorities, GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 design stood out as the most viable option, and was selected to power the first of four SMRs at Darlington.
Four years later, Canada now has more than half a dozen nuclear energy projects in various stages of development, including in greenfield provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan. Globally, interest in the technology has accelerated, with countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden actively considering the same design. Poland has also selected the BWRX-300, with plans to build 24 of them across six sites.
Most important, momentum around this first-of-a-kind project is accelerating. In April 2025, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) issued a construction license to OPG for the first unit at Darlington, and just a few short weeks later, the Ontario government gave its approval for construction to proceed.
As deployments proceed, the benefits to Canada are clear. A majority of the reactor’s components will be sourced from within Canada, generating billions in economic activity and anchoring the country’s role as a credible SMR supplier. More importantly, the project demonstrated that with the right alignment of public policy, stakeholder engagement, and timing, a single technology decision can create far-reaching impact—advancing energy resilience, economic development, and global decarbonization goals in tandem.