Save Pickering

Pickering had some stand-out CF's in 2024, including units 1 and 4 in their final year:

- Pickering 1: 98.1%
- Pickering 4: 92.4%
- Pickering 6: 98.8%
- Pickering 8: 91.2%

Will be exciting to see what post-refurbishment looks like!

Pickering is receiving a deep water inlet upgrade as part of its refurbishment. Great to see work on this project progressing!

Public Notice 📢

Barges are now in place south of Pickering Nuclear Station until the fall to support geotechnical assessments for the refurbishment planning. A refurbished Pickering NGS will play an important role in supporting the province's future growth and electrification. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4d1x2Ks

More progress on the Pickering refurbishment:

"As part of the preparation for refurbishment, the government has authorized OPG to sign a $2.1 billion contract with CanAtom for early engineering and procurement to prepare for the ex*****on of the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program, creating more than 2,400 jobs across the province."

"OPG will now proceed with the Project Definition Phase of the project, which will last through 2026. The government is supporting OPG’s $4.1 billion budget for this phase of work, bringing the total investment to date in the project to $6.2 billion. OPG will complete a high-quality cost estimate and schedule for the project, progress detailed engineering, further procurement and contracting work, as well as develop a robust project ex*****on plan. This extensive planning and preparation will help ensure the final project, if approved, is completed on time and on budget, consistent with the Darlington Refurbishment Project which is on-budget and ahead of schedule."

Ontario Advancing Plan to Refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station | Ontario Newsroom Ontario Advancing Plan to Refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station | Ontario Newsroom

Today at noon Ontario Power Generation Pickering A4, the final Pickering A unit, enters retirement.

Unit 4 entered commercial service on June 17th, 1973, putting it at 51 years old. It was one of the fastest CANDU reactors constructed, 5 years shovel to in-service.

As the final whisper of steam leaves the A plant, it is bittersweet, as its sister, and site mate, Pickering B has a bright future ahead of it with full refurbishment and many more decades of operation.

Pickering was planned around an average capacity factor of 60%, which was pretty typical for thermal plants of the period.

In the first 10 years of operation for each unit:
Pickering A1: 81.1%
Pickering A2: 83.0%
Pickering A3: 78.0%
Pickering A4: 82.1%
Pickering B5: 76.7%
Pickering B6: 83.8%
Pickering B7: 86.9%
Pickering B8: 82.5%

Making it one of the best performing plants in the world at the time.

From 1971 to 1996 (the first 10 years for each unit) Pickering would generate 472TWh, which is more than all the wind and solar constructed in Ontario under the GEA will generate over its lifetime (341TWh).

As we head toward the Pickering B refurbishment, reflecting on the 1,000TWh the plant will have provided by the time the refurbishment starts, it's incredible to see the track record and continued support of this wonderful Canadian technology.

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