- Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
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Darlington Nuclear Generating Station 
Location of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
Country Canada Location Clarington, Ontario Coordinates 43°52′22″N 78°43′11″W / 43.87278°N 78.71972°WCoordinates: 43°52′22″N 78°43′11″W / 43.87278°N 78.71972°W Status Operational Construction began 1981–93 Construction cost $14.4 billion CAD Operator(s) Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Reactor information Reactors operational 3512 MW
(4 reactors)Reactor type(s) CANDU As of 2009-07-16 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 and comprises 4 CANDU nuclear reactors located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, having 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.[1] It is arguably one of the most advanced nuclear generating stations in the world.
Contents
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 and which continues to operate the Darlington station. 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.[2]
The reactors are named Darlington 1 through Darlington 4.
Cost overruns
To most Ontarians, the Darlington station is associated 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, while the final cost was $14.4 billion CAD.[3] 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, while ultimately accounted for 70% of the cost overruns.[4] Inflation during 1977 to 1981 was 46 percent, according to Canadas Consumer Price index. In addition interest rates were running at 20 percent. A quarter of the costs were attributable to other errors. Improper choice of equipment and a six-month labour stoppage of electrical workers yielded further costs and delays.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
New build proposal
OPG has also begun the process for building up to 4 new nuclear units at the site of its Darlington Nuclear Station. There is a lengthy approvals process in place including a full Environmental Assessment which will take 3–4 years to complete. If successful, the new units would go into service sometime around 2018. No decision has been made on what technology will be used.
In June 2009, the government of Ontario rejected all three bids submitted, leaving the status of the new builds up in the air.[8][9]
Waste
Low and intermediate level waste from Darlington is presently 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. Pending approvals and licensing by regulatory agencies, the DGR would commence construction in 2013 and operation in 2018.[10]
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.[11] The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is presently seeking a site in Canada for a permanent repository for used fuel from all of Canada's nuclear reactors.
Awards and Recognition
2008: International Corporate Habitat of the Year Award (Wildlife Habitat Council) [12]
2007: Performance Improvement Award (Institute of Nuclear Power Operators) [13]
2007: 20th Anniversary Signatures of Sustainability Award (Wildlife Habitat Council)[14]
2005: International Corporate Habitat of the Year Award (Wildlife Habitat Council) [15]
See also
- List of Canadian nuclear generating stations
- Fitzpatrick Nuclear Generating Station
- Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station
- Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
References
- ^ "Darlington Nuclear". http://www.opg.com/power/nuclear/darlington/. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ Ferguson, Rob (9 Feb 2010). "'Tune-up' for Pickering, Overhaul at Darlington". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/unassigned/article/762506---tune-up-for-pickering-overhaul-at-darlington. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ^ Canadian Press: "Darlington price tag rises to $14.4 billion", The Toronto Star, March 4, 1993.
- ^ http://www.nuclearfaq.ca/cnf_sectionC.htm#darlington
- ^ http://www.magma.ca/~jalrober/CANcostb.htm
- ^ William Walker. "Ontario to complete huge nuclear plant." The Toronto Star, August 21, 1986.
- ^ CBC News. http://www.cbc.ca/ontariovotes2003/features/power_091703.html.
- ^ "Darlington plans on hold". World Nuclear News. 29 June 2009. http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=25522. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ Hamilton, Tyler (July 14, 2009). "$26B cost killed nuclear bid". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/665644. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ "OPG's DGR". http://www.opg.com/dgr/. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ ""News from Ontario Power Generation", Nov 2, 2007". http://www.opg.com/news/releases/NewsNov2b_07.pdf. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ ""OPG 2009 Sustainable Development Report"". http://www.opg.com/pdf/Sustainable%20Development%20Reports/Sustainable%20Development%20Report%202009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ ""News from Ontario Power Generation", Dec 4, 2007". http://www.opg.com/news/releases/. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ ""OPG 2009 Sustainable Development Report"". http://www.opg.com/pdf/Sustainable%20Development%20Reports/Sustainable%20Development%20Report%202009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ^ ""OPG News Release, November 30, 2005"". http://www.opg.com/news/releases/NewsNov30_05.asp. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
External links
Categories:- Nuclear power stations with proposed reactors
- Nuclear power stations in Ontario
- Ontario Power Generation
- Clarington, Ontario
- Nuclear power stations using CANDU reactors
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