RC115 NovDec 2024 - Magazine - Page 9
When I joined Bruce Power in 2019 as executive vice
president of Projects and Engineering, I brought with me extensive global experience in the nuclear industry. My career
has allowed me to take on a variety of exciting and challenging roles, and delivering large-scale, multibillion-dollar
nuclear projects has been an important part of my journey.
Experiences in engineering, operations and large
nuclear project management, and in executive positions
within companies like Areva, Hitachi and Bechtel, have
provided me with the hands-on experience needed to
lead our organization as we explore the potential for adding up to 4,800 megawatts of new nuclear capacity
on the Bruce Power site.
As I embark on my new role as president and
CEO of Bruce Power, I look forward to utilizing my
expertise and leadership capabilities as we continue to improve our site performance in our journey
towards Excellence and deliver our Life-Extension
Program and Major Component Replacement projects as well as explore the potential for new nuclear
on the Bruce Power site.
What is the status of Bruce Power’s Life Extension
program and MCR refurbishment project?
CHASSARD: Bruce Power is Ontario’s largest electricity
generating facility, and our Life-Extension Program and
Major Component Replacement (MCR) projects will
play a key role in supporting growing electricity needs
by extending the operation of our eight units to continue producing clean energy and cancer-昀椀ghting medical
isotopes through 2064 and beyond.
In September 2023, we completed our 昀椀rst of six unit
refurbishments when we returned Unit 6 to service ahead
of schedule and on budget.
The Unit 3 MCR began in March 2023, and is utilizing
innovation and leveraging experience gained throughout
the Unit 6 MCR to realize e昀케ciencies.
The Unit 4 MCR is the next step in Bruce Power’s
Life-Extension Program, which is one of Canada’s largest
private-sector clean energy projects. The unit will be
removed from service in February 2025 for its refurbishment, and with two MCR outages in execution simultaneously, this will mark a very busy and exciting time for
the site.
The renewed Unit 3 is scheduled to be back online in
2026, with Unit 4 following in 2028. Refurbishments will
continue to overlap until the program’s completion in 2033,
when Unit 8 is returned to service following its MCR.
With the pre-development work to study the feasibility of the option for a new nuclear build on the Bruce
Power site underway, can you explain how this project
could help address Ontario’s growing demand for clean
electricity?
CHASSARD: As Ontario plans for substantial growth in
electricity demand over the next three decades, the Bruce
Power site represents a valuable option to expand Ontario’s 昀氀eet of clean, a昀昀ordable and reliable nuclear power.
As an established site, with room for growth, existing
transmission corridors and the local expertise needed to
successfully advance major nuclear projects, Bruce Power
is in a unique position for potential expansion.
RENEWCANADA.NET
Bruce Power will undergo a federal Impact Assessment
(IA) for up to 4,800 MWe of new nuclear capacity on the Bruce
Power site—a project referred to as Bruce C. This work is an
essential part of Ontario’s growth development plans and was
outlined as a ‘no regret’ action by the Independent Electricity
System Operator (IESO) to create a valuable option for the
province in future electricity planning and allow for faster
implementation if a decision is made to advance a new build.
Ontario is forecast to double its electricity grid by 2050, and
nuclear has the potential to play a vital role in helping expand
the electricity system in Ontario.
“Bruce Power is proud to foster meaningful partnerships with
community organizations to support the great work that is being
done to improve lives, protect the environment, celebrate culture,
encourage education and build healthy communities.”
How important is it for Bruce Power to support economic
development within the local communities and First Nations?
CHASSARD: Bruce Power owes much of its success to the support
from its surrounding communities, and we are proud to give
back where we can and to create new economic opportunities
throughout the region.
Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program is one of Canada’s
largest infrastructure projects and is a key driver of the local
economy in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, a region known
as the Clean Energy Frontier. We work in close partnership
with the Nuclear Innovation Institute through its Clean Energy
Frontier Program to promote economic and community development, and to ensure the community bene昀椀ts from Bruce
Power’s operations.
Bruce Power is proud to foster meaningful partnerships
with community organizations to support the great work that is
being done to improve lives, protect the environment, celebrate
culture, encourage education and build healthy communities.
We also look forward to building stronger relationships
and deeper partnerships with Indigenous communities. In
2024, we announced a new approach to supplier engagement
and Indigenous relations focused on community engagement,
employment, training and cultural awareness. We are working
with Indigenous partners and the supplier community to further develop this initiative for full implementation in 2025.
We also look forward to continuing—and expanding—our
partnership with Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) in the 昀椀ght
against cancer. Together, we have partnered on the Isotope Production System initiative, creating “Gamzook’aamin aakoziwin,”
which translates to “We are teaming up to 昀椀ght the sickness.”
SON and Bruce Power have been collaborating on this
initiative since 2019, including jointly marketing new isotopes
in the support of the global 昀椀ght against cancer, while also
working to create new economic opportunities within SON
territory. In 2023, Bruce Power and SON began discussions on
expansion opportunities for continued growth of this partnership as we look to further support the advancement of isotope
innovation in Canada and continue the 昀椀ght against cancer.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024– RENEW CANADA 9
