Hatch nuclear expertise to advance industry projects and technologies

Toronto, Ontario — Hatch’s nuclear expertise and technical capabilities will be front and center at the upcoming Canadian Nuclear Society Conference (June 19-22), as the company ramps up for major refurbishments to nuclear facilities at Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington generating station in Ontario.

Hatch is a top service provider to the nuclear industry in Canada, and has undertaken projects in South Africa, Australia, the U.S. and Japan.  Bruce Power, the world’s largest operating nuclear facility, recently announced a C$13-billion refurbishment investment for six nuclear units.  OPG’s C$12.8 billion Darlington nuclear refurbishment project is expected to provide 30-plus years of clean base load power at a lower cost than alternatives.

“This is an exciting time for Ontario’s nuclear industry and for Ontarians, who will benefit from reliable, economical, carbon-free electricity as these projects get under way,” said John Pearson, Hatch’s Global Managing Director of Energy.  “Hatch has the capability and experience to deliver the full nuclear project lifecycle, for both small and major projects alike. We stand ready to bring our best experts and deep technical knowledge to ensure these projects set the industry standard.”   

Hatch is opening an office in Port Elgin, Bruce County, staffed by members of its nuclear team, to support work under way at Bruce Power. In addition, the company recently completed nuclear quality assurance audits by the CANDU Procurement Audit Committee (CANPAC) and the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN).  The audits authorize Hatch to supply engineering and procurement services for nuclear facilities in Canada and Romania, respectively.

Hatch has also been successful in developing capabilities in small modular reactors (SMRs). The company has completed a new study for the Ontario Ministry of Energy examining the feasibility of SMRs in remote areas of Ontario (https://ontarioenergyreport.ca/pdfs/MOE%20-%20Feasibility%20Study_SMRs%20-%20June%202016.pdf).

Hatch’s Brian Gihm, an author of the study, explores the potential adoption of SMRs in his thought leadership blog entitled, “Small Modular Reactors: The Future of Nuclear.”

Blog Excerpt:

“There’s a future for SMRs, and it’s coming into better focus. Companies like Hatch, that know both mining and nuclear power, are in a unique position. Not just to fill the void of SMR-design optimization… We know how to develop new technology and make it commercially viable…. Before long, the right confluence of technological possibility, cost, and the real, increasing need for the benefits this kind of small-scale nuclear energy can provide will become too strong to ignore.”

Read this upcoming blog and watch for the firm’s new video at www.hatch.com.