Nuclear Energy

Energy Generation

Durham Region plays a significant role in Canada's energy sector, with Ontario Power Generation (O.P.G.) headquartered in the City of Oshawa. Currently, Durham Region produces about 30% of Ontario's electricity and includes a strong cluster of more than 250 companies - some of the largest and most innovative - in electricity generation and transmission, energy management, smart mobility, manufacturing, and engineering services.

Many Canadian and International companies have chosen Durham Region to be their home, including Hydro One, O.P.G., Elexicon Energy, Hubbell, A.B.B., Siemens, Aecom, R.C.M. Canada, Veolia, Worley, Alithya, and many more. Oshawa's new 10-year economic development strategy aims to foster continued growth in this important sector.

The Brilliant Energy Institute (B.E.I.) builds upon the energy research and expertise at Ontario Tech University to meaningfully contribute to Canada's leadership in the global transition to net zero by 2050, and to strengthen outcomes regionally, provincially, and nationally, here at home. Their works supports deep decarbonization, sustainability and equitable access to clean, safe, abundant energy necessary for prosperity, quality of life, and climate resilience in communities across Canada and worldwide. The Nuclear Simulation Teaching Lab is the most extensive nuclear power plant computer simulation of any engineering program in Ontario.

Nuclear Simulation Laboratory

Assets

Key Companies

Quick Stats and Facts

Durham Region's Energy Labour Force: 10,739. [Source: Invest Durham]
Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation Energy Services and the City of Oshawa announced that Delpark Homes Centre will be the future site of a 600 kW combined heat and power plant. The system will be owned, operated and maintained by O.P.U.C.E.S. [Source: Oshawa PUC Networks Inc.]
O.P.G. plans to build a new corporate headquarters in Durham Region by 2024. The new campus will include the existing Darlington Energy Complex located just south of Highway 401 and a new building constructed on adjacent land. Once complete, the site will accommodate O.P.G. staff from 15 existing locations across the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara Region, bringing over 2,000 jobs to our region.
O.P.G. is launching the Centre for Canadian Nuclear Sustainability, a world class facility that will attract skilled jobs, innovative businesses and economic development to Durham Region and advance solutions for minimizing nuclear materials and recycling clean materials. [Source: O.P.G.]
Ontario Tech University Pursuit of Licence Enhancing High-Tech Nuclear Facilities: Known as the Subcritical Assembly Project, new equipment at Ontario Tech will enable enhanced hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students. The distinct design features of a subcritical assembly will offer an ideal enhancement to the University's top level nuclear engineering teaching and training. [Source: Ontario Tech]
Darlington New Nuclear Project: O.P.G. has commenced planning and licensing for three additional Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (S.M.R.s), for a total of four S.M.R.s at the Darlington new nuclear site. Pending regulatory approvals to build three additional units, the total output of the Darlington New Nuclear Project would be 1,200 megawatts; enough electricity to reliably and safely power about 1.2 million homes, and help our community and the Province of Ontario meet increasing demand for electrification. [Source: O.P.G.]
Life-saving Nuclear Isotopes: Nuclear isotopes, harvested directly from O.P.G.'s CANDU reactors, are used to sterilize medical devices and play an important role in medical imaging and diagnostic procedures, as well as in medicine and new drug development. From cancer to Alzheimer's to brain disease, medical isotopes are a game changer and O.P.G. and its subsidiary, Laurentis Energy Partners, are leading the way for the world. [Source: O.P.G.]