Lisa McBride
Canada Country Leader,
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Since the late 19th century, when electricity first illuminated the streets of cities like Hamilton, Ottawa, and Toronto, Ontario has built a reputation—both within Canada and globally—as a province that is ready and willing to lead in adopting new and innovative energy technologies.
More than 125 years later, as governments worldwide work to integrate more lower-carbon energy into their electricity grids, Ontario is cementing its status as a leader in carbon-free power, by taking the bold step to build the first grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) in the western world.
In May, in an exciting first, the provincial government approved Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to begin construction on the first of four SMRs at Darlington, using GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 reactor technology.
“This is a proud moment for GE Vernova Hitachi and Ontario as we move from vision to reality with the construction of the BWRX-300,” said Lisa McBride, Canada Country Leader, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. “As the world searches for carbon-free, reliable energy solutions, Ontario has already been charting what the future looks like, with roughly 92% of its electricity grid powered by low- to zero-carbon energy, including nuclear.1 Our organization is proud to be contributing to that, bringing almost seven decades of experience to the table.”
A shared legacy of leadership and innovation
GE Vernova Hitachi’s story in Canada began over 60 years ago at Chalk River when its predecessor, GE, partnered with AECL and the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario—now OPG—to bring nuclear power to Ontario’s electricity grid for the first time.
That work laid the foundation for the modern-day CANDU reactor, fundamentally changing the global trajectory of nuclear energy.
That willingness to go first, and that pioneering mindset, has united GE Vernova Hitachi and Ontario, and is why Ontario is a natural home for emerging technologies like SMRs.
Ontario is writing the blueprint for future energy projects
As Ontario’s population grows, manufacturing and industrialization increases, and demand for electric vehicles spreads, the province’s energy systems operator—the IESO—forecasts a 75% rise in electricity demand by 2050.2 To meet that growth, nuclear energy—and SMRs—will undoubtedly play a leading role.
But gone are the days when governments thought about generation purely in megawatts. With the introduction last month of Bill 40, the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, legislators are now thinking about how energy projects, and the partners they work with, are contributing to the economic health and prosperity of the people, businesses, and communities they serve.
At full deployment, GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 is expected to support up to 18,000 highly skilled, good paying jobs across construction, manufacturing, operations, and maintenance. The company has also committed to maximizing local content in the project, with 80% of project spending flowing to Ontario companies, injecting $500 million on average annually into the local economy and potentially adding $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years. By working with local partners where possible, GE Vernova Hitachi is ensuring the project benefits are felt across the province.
“With more than 80 Ontario-based suppliers already contributing to this project, we’re not just building a reactor—we’re building and supporting communities,” McBride notes. “Perhaps most exciting for Ontario is the international doors this project will unlock. As other countries look to deploy their own SMRs, they’ll be looking to use the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of the people and businesses that have already built an SMR—and they’ll find that in Ontario.”
With more than 80 Ontario-based suppliers already contributing to this project, we’re not just building a reactor—we’re building and supporting communities.
Turning Local Momentum into Global Impact
Ontario’s investment in SMRs is not just about meeting domestic energy needs—it’s also laying the groundwork for a new era of Canadian nuclear energy globally.
To support these efforts, GE Vernova Hitachi is already working with governments, utilities, and private-sector partners in jurisdictions like Sweden and Poland to position Ontario-made components and services for international deployments.
For example, Poland announced plans to build twenty-four BWRX-300 SMRs at six sites across the country.
“This is Poland’s first venture into nuclear power, and Ontario businesses that have gained experience working on the Darlington project will be well-positioned to support that and other global projects” says McBride.
Ontario’s SMR story is no longer a future concept—it’s a project under construction, backed by a proven team, with real investments and real opportunities taking shape. As the BWRX-300 project progresses, it’s laying the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable, and more competitive Ontario—at home and on the global stage.
Learn more at gevernova.com/nuclear.
