Bruce Power’s Unit 1 sends power to grid for first time in 15 years
by Dan Ilika
Cost involved in getting first two units back online alone expected to be upwards of $4.8-billion
TIVERTON, Ont.—Bruce Power says the Unit 1 reactor at its nuclear facility bearing the same name is back online after almost 15 years of dormancy.
The revitalization project was aimed at refurbishing the decades-old nuclear plant, with restarts of Units 1 and 2, an overhaul to Unit 3 and the replacement of the steam generators at Unit 4.
According to the Ontario Power Authority, the original $4.25-billion price tag for reworking the four reactors in the facility’s Bruce A has now ballooned to almost $6-billion.
The cost involved in getting the first two units back online alone is expected to be upwards of $4.8-billion.
As outlined by Bruce Power in August, it will be responsible for all costs exceeding $3.4-billion.
With synchronization of Unit 1 now complete, final planned commissioning activities will be carried out on Unit 1, including safety system shutdown testing, according to the privately-held power generator.
The company says its Unit 2 is on track to return to operations in the fourth quarter of this year.
Unit 2 was originally scheduled for completion in early July.
The company says Units 1 and 2 will produce enough electricity to power cities the size of Ottawa and London, Ont., combined.
The return to service of Units 1 and 2 will bring the Bruce Power site back to its eight-unit capacity, according to Bruce Power.
