The Candu unit was reconnected to Ontario's power grid at 30% power last week following a Major Component Replacement (MCR) outage that began in January 2020. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission removed its fourth and final regulatory hold-point on 9 September, allowing the unit to increase above 35% power.
“Returning this renewed unit to service 39 years after it was originally declared operational is symbolic in that it makes the case for nuclear as the right choice for the people of Ontario in the past and moving forward," said Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck. "Ontario’s nuclear industry, supply chain and skilled workforce continues to prove that we’re fully capable of completing large projects on schedule and on budget and that refurbishing our existing assets is the right thing to do to power Ontario forward to a clean energy future.”
The unit's continued operation is forecast to result in the avoidance of the equivalent of some 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, compared to carbon-emitting energy sources.
It is the first of six units to undergo the overhaul and refurbishment process under Bruce Power's Life Extension Program, extending their operation to 2064. The next MCR outage, at Bruce 3, is on track and is using innovation and efficiencies gained in the work at unit 6, the company said. Units 4, 5, 7 and 8 will undergo the process over the coming decade.
