Darlington
Latest updates
2013
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May 6, 2013: Darlington Unit 4 taken off-line due to transformer failure (source: OPG)
- April 5, 2013: Minor oil spill to the environment at Darlington (source: OPG)
- March 28, 2013: CNSC Correspondence with OPG on Condenser Cooling Water Option Assessment for the Darlington New Nuclear Project
In August 2011, the Joint Review Panel for the proposed Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) recommended that the CNSC require Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to undertake a formal quantitative cost-benefit analysis for cooling tower and once-through condenser cooling water systems, applying the principle of best available technology economically achievable.
OPG completed an analysis comparing once-through cooling with mechanical draft cooling towers and has selected once-through cooling for the proposed DNNP.
At the request of OPG, CNSC staff reviewed the analysis and are of the opinion that the methodology used by OPG satisfies the Joint Review Panel recommendation. In addition, CNSC staff consider that there are no fundamental barriers to licensing a once-through cooling water system for the proposed DNNP, subject to the conditions outlined in a letter sent to OPG on March 28, 2013.
It is important to note that CNSC staff’s review does not bind future decisions made by the Commission, should an application for a licence to construct a nuclear power plant be received. These matters will be brought to the Commission’s attention at an upcoming public meeting in August 2013.
- February 5, 2013: Notification of Fire at Darlington East Fuelling Facility Auxiliary Area
Ontario Power Generation has notified the CNSC that a bearing failure for exhaust Fan 3 located in the East Fuelling Facility Auxiliary Area overheated causing it to smoke. Darlington staff followed procedures and notified the Clarington fire department and the CNSC. The Darlington NPP Emergency Response Team was able to control the situation and did not require the assistance of the Clarington fire department which had been proactively called to the site. There were no injuries reported and the CNSC confirms that there is no risk to the public, workers, or the environment. All four units continue to operate safely.
- February 4, 2013: Darlington Unit 4 Planned Non-Radioactive Steam Release
Ontario Power Generation has reported to the CNSC that they will be taking Unit 4 of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station off-line for regular maintenance. As part of this process, there will be larger than normal amounts of non-radioactive steam released from Unit 4. CNSC’s Darlington site inspectors have been notified and are aware that the steam is non-radioactive. The CNSC confirms that there is no risk to the public, workers, or the environment.
Read more from Ontario Power Generation: Darlington Unit 4 Planned Non-Radioactive Steam Release
2012
2011
- June 24, 2011: Environmental Assessment for the Refurbishment and Continued Operation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
- April 19, 2011: Update to regulatory action issued to all Class I facilities and uranium mines and mills in Canada
- April 12, 2011: Update to regulatory action issued to all major nuclear facilities in Canada
- March 22, 2011: CNSC request to all Class I nuclear facilities and uranium mines and mills in Canada pursuant to subsection 12(2) of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations
- March 19, 2011: Seismic activity near Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
- March 17, 2011: CNSC Request to all major nuclear facilities in Canada pursuant to Subsection 12(2) of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations
2010
- June 21, 2010: CNSC issues request for action to CANDU licensees
Ontario Power Generation Darlington new nuclear power plant project
The Darlington project is for the site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear reactors at the existing Darlington Site to generate approximately 4,800 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.
Find out more about the status of this project.
Darlington nuclear generating station
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) owns and is licensed to operate four nuclear power reactors at the Darlington station. Each power reactor has a licensed capacity to produce 850 megawatts of electricity. The Darlington station began operating in 1989 and continues to operate today.
Full-time CNSC employees work on site at the station and inspect and evaluate operations, while also checking compliance with regulatory requirements and licence conditions. Other CNSC employees periodically visit to carry out regulatory activities.
Darlington used fuel dry storage facility
Located on the same site as the generating station, the Darlington used fuel dry storage facility houses radioactive wastes in the form of spent fuel from the power reactors. OPG is also the licensed owner and operator of this facility.
Located about 45 km west of Bowmanville are the Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations in Pickering. Approximately the same distance to the east of Darlington is Port Hope which is home to numerous nuclear facilities.
For more information about OPG’s facilities in Darlington, please see the OPG Web site at:
Please note: Links to Web sites not under the control of the CNSC are provided solely for the convenience of users. The CNSC is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or the reliability of the content of those sites. The CNSC offers no guarantee in that regard and is not responsible for the information found through these links, nor does it endorse the sites or their content.
Users should be aware that information offered by non-Government of Canada sites, to which the Official Languages Act and certain other requirements may not apply, may be available only in the language(s) used by the sites in question.