Darlington Nuclear Generating Station

Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
Location of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario
Country Canada
Location Clarington, Durham Region, Ontario
Coordinates 43°52′22″N 78°43′11″W / 43.87278°N 78.71972°W / 43.87278; -78.71972Coordinates: 43°52′22″N 78°43′11″W / 43.87278°N 78.71972°W / 43.87278; -78.71972
Status Operational
Construction began 1981
Commission date 1990–93
Construction cost $14.4 billion CAD
Operator(s) Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
Nuclear power station
Reactor type CANDU
Thermal power station
Cooling source Lake Ontario
Power generation
Units operational 4×
Nameplate capacity 3,512 MW
Darlington Unit 1-4 Capability (Capacity Factor), 2003-2011[1][2][3]

Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Clarington, Ontario. The facility derives its name from the Township of Darlington, the former name of the municipality in which it is located.

The Darlington station is a large nuclear facility comprising four CANDU nuclear reactors with a total output of 3,512 MWe (capacity net) when all units are online. It provides about 20 percent of Ontario's electricity needs, enough to serve a city of two million people.[4]

Construction and operation

The facility was constructed in stages between 1981–1993 by the provincial Crown corporation, Ontario Hydro. Unit 2 was brought online in 1990, Unit 1 in 1992, and Units 3 and 4 in 1993. In April 1999 Ontario Hydro was split into 5 component Crown corporations with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) taking over all electrical generating stations. The Darlington reactors have been among the best performing in OPG's CANDU fleet, including a top year in 2008 in which the plant achieved a combined 94.5% capacity factor.[5] In June 2016, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) named Darlington one of the safest and top performing nuclear stations in the world - for the third time in a row.[6]

After public hearings, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission announced in December 2015 the renewal of Darlington’s power reactor operating licence, for a 10 year period from Jan. 1, 2016 until Nov. 30, 2025, to allow for the refurbishment of the Darlington station, which will begin in October 2016.[7]

Cost overruns

Some may associate the Darlington station with the massive cost overruns incurred during its construction. The initial cost estimate for the station was $3.9 billion CAD in the late 1970s, which increased to $7.4 billion in 1981 when construction was started.[8] A year-long period of public hearings and study by an Ontario government all-party committee finished in 1986 with the decision to proceed with the project, which had then risen to $7 billion in actual and committed costs.[9] The final cost was $14.4 billion CAD, almost double the initial construction budget.[10] The project was adversely affected by declining electricity demand forecasts, mounting debt of Ontario Hydro, and the Chernobyl disaster which necessitated safety reviews in mid-construction. Each delay incurred interest charges on debt, which ultimately accounted for 70% of the cost overruns.[11] Inflation during 1977 to 1981 was 46 percent, according to Canada's Consumer Price index. In addition interest rates were running at 20 percent. Improper choice of equipment and a six-month labour stoppage of electrical workers also yielded some of these costs and delays.[12] Discussion of who is to blame for the costs and subsequent debts associated with Darlington often arise during provincial election campaigns, and are often mentioned in anti-nuclear literature.[13]

Refurbishment project

On October 14, 2016, OPG began Canada’s largest clean infrastructure project – the refurbishment of all four of Darlington’s reactors. According the Conference Board of Canada, the $12.8 billion investment will generate $14.9 billion in economic benefits to Ontario, including thousands of construction jobs at Darlington and at some 60 Ontario companies supplying components for the work.[14] The project is scheduled for completion by 2026, and will ensure safe plant operation through 2055.

New build proposal

In 2006, OPG started the federal approvals process to build new nuclear units at the site of its Darlington Nuclear Station. The project proposal involved the construction and operation of up to four nuclear units, with capacity of up to 4,800 MW.

A request for proposals (RFP) process for design and construction resulted in bids from Areva NP, Westinghouse, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). In June 2009, the Government of Ontario put the RFP process on hold, citing unexpectedly high bids, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the only compliant bidder (AECL).[15][16][17]

In August 2011, the three-member Joint Review Panel (mandated by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission) released a report finding that the Darlington new build project would not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts (after taking into account mitigation measures). Following the report, the federal government approved the Environmental Assessment.[18]

In October 2013, the Ontario government declared that the Darlington new build project would not be a part of Ontario's long term energy plan, citing the high capital cost estimates and energy surplus in the province at the time of the announcement.[19]

Waste

Low and intermediate level waste from Darlington is stored at the Western Waste Management Facility (WWMF) at the Bruce nuclear site near Kincardine, Ontario. OPG has proposed the construction and operation of a deep geologic repository for the long-term storage of this low and intermediate level waste on lands adjacent to WWMF.

On May 6, 2015 the Joint Review Panel issued the Environmental Assessment (EA) Report recommending the approval of the Deep Geologic Repository for Ontario’s low and intermediate level waste to the federal government.[20]

In February 2016, the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change delayed a decision on OPG’s DGR, causing a pause in the timeline for the environmental assessment decision to be issued. OPG has since committed to completing further DGR studies by the end of 2016.[21]

The Darlington Waste Management Facility provides dry storage for the used fuel from Darlington, after an initial period in a water-filled storage bay. The facility was opened in 2007, reportedly on schedule and on budget.[22] The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is seeking a site in Canada for a permanent repository for used fuel from all of Canada's nuclear reactors.

Awards and recognition

2016: Corporate Community Leadership Award (Community Care Durham - Clarington) [23]

2014: Local Economic Impact Award (Clarington Board of Trade) [24]

2012: Environmental Achievement Award (Environmental Earth Angels) [25]

2011: In December 2011 Darlington achieved 12 million hours without a lost time injury [26]

2009: William H. Howard Conservation, Education and Outreach Award (Wildlife Habitat Council) [27]

2008: International Corporate Habitat of the Year Award (Wildlife Habitat Council) [28]

2007: Performance Improvement Award (Institute of Nuclear Power Operators) [29]

2007: 20th Anniversary Signatures of Sustainability Award (Wildlife Habitat Council)[30]

2005: International Corporate Habitat of the Year Award (Wildlife Habitat Council) [31]

Spill

On Dec. 21, 2009, Darlington nuclear staff over-filled a storage tank with lake water. The tank already contained purified (demineralized) water. This resulted in an overflow of about 210,000 litres of water to the environment. The amount of tritium released to the environment was less than 1 per cent of the regulatory limit and consistent with normal operational activities.[32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Report on 2008 Performance" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  2. ↑ "OPG 2010 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  3. ↑ "OPG 2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  4. ↑ "Darlington Nuclear". Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  5. ↑ Ferguson, Rob (9 Feb 2010). "'Tune-up' for Pickering, Overhaul at Darlington". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  6. ↑ "Darlington Nuclear Plant Rated Among the World's Best". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  7. ↑ "CNSC renews the Darlington Nuclear Power Reactor Operating Licence".
  8. ↑ http://www.nuclearfaq.ca/cnf_sectionC.htm#SectionC
  9. ↑ William Walker. "Ontario to complete huge nuclear plant." The Toronto Star, August 21, 1986.
  10. ↑ Canadian Press: "Darlington price tag rises to $14.4 billion", The Toronto Star, March 4, 1993.
  11. ↑ http://www.nuclearfaq.ca/cnf_sectionC.htm#darlington
  12. ↑ http://www.magma.ca/~jalrober/CANcostb.htm
  13. ↑ CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/ontariovotes2003/features/power_091703.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ "Refurbishment of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station Would Boost Economic Activity And Employment". www.conferenceboard.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  15. ↑ "Darlington plans on hold". World Nuclear News. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  16. ↑ Hamilton, Tyler (July 14, 2009). "$26B cost killed nuclear bid". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  17. ↑ Lawson, Don (February 2012). "CANDU at Darlington: Securing Jobs and Energy for the New Economy" (PDF). CCRE Commentary. Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  18. ↑ "Darlington New Build Project Overview". Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  19. ↑ ""Ontario nixes building two nuclear reactors" - Global News". Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  20. ↑ "Joint Review Panel Submits Environmental Assessment Report for the Deep Geologic Repository Project".
  21. ↑ "Ontario Power Generation | OPG Commits to Completing Further DGR Studies". www.opg.com. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  22. ↑ ""News from Ontario Power Generation", Nov 2, 2007" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  23. ↑ "Community Care Durham - News". www.communitycaredurham.on.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  24. ↑ "Clarington Board of Trade - Economic Development Update - Summer 2014 (PDF)" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "Ontario Power Generation | Corporate Awards". www.opg.com. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  26. ↑ "OPG "POWERNews", vol. 14, issue 1" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  27. ↑ "OPG 2010 Sustainable Development Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  28. ↑ "OPG 2009 Sustainable Development Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  29. ↑ ""News from Ontario Power Generation", Dec 4, 2007" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  30. ↑ "OPG 2009 Sustainable Development Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  31. ↑ "OPG News Release, November 30, 2005". Retrieved 2013-10-26.
  32. ↑ "Nuclear plant spills tritium into lake" The Toronto Star. Author Jesse McLean.

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