Westinghouse, Tetra Tech to collaborate on nuclear new-build projects

Under the MoU, Tetra Tech Canada - the Canadian subsidiary of US-based consulting and engineering services firm Tetra Tech Inc - will leverage its deep engineering expertise and its large clean energy capacity in North America and the UK to support Westinghouse. The partnership aims to strengthen domestic project development capabilities and "position Westinghouse's technologies as leading solutions for Canada's clean energy future".

"As a global leader in high-end consulting and engineering, and with deep roots in Canada's clean energy industry, Tetra Tech is uniquely positioned to collaborate with Westinghouse as the country expands its nuclear power generation to meet future energy needs," said Sanjay Krishnan, Tetra Tech Unit President, Nuclear Services.

John Gorman, President of Westinghouse Canada, added: "This agreement underscores Westinghouse's commitment to investing in Ontario's nuclear future by partnering with the exceptional product and service providers that have long been the foundation of the province's supply chain. By working with these trusted organisations, we aim to support Ontario's energy goals and deliver successful outcomes for new nuclear projects."

The Ontario government formally asked Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to explore opportunities for new nuclear energy generation at Wesleyville in January last year, after the local municipality and Indigenous communities expressed their support. The OPG-owned site has been municipally zoned and maintained for electricity generation for more than 50 years. OPG has identified the potential to construct and operate nuclear generating stations on both the eastern and western portions of the site.

Earlier this month, Ontario Power Generation submitted the Initial Project Description for a new nuclear plant at Wesleyville near Port Hope, Ontario, a regulatory milestone marking the first step in the impact assessment process. No reactor technology has yet been selected, but OPG has considered several technologies as part of so-called Plant Parameter Envelope approach which will be used for site licensing. These include pressurised water reactor technology (Westinghouse's AP1000 and EDF's EPR); pressurised heavy water reactor (CANDU) technology (Atkins Realis' CANDU MONARK); and boiling water reactor technology (GE-Hitachi's BWRX-300).

Westinghouse said the MoU with Tetra Tech is the latest in a series of agreements with Canadian firms to support its AP1000 and AP300 projects globally.

Westinghouse says the AP1000 pressurised water reactor is the only operating advanced Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. There are six AP1000 reactors currently setting operational performance and availability records worldwide with 14 reactors under construction and six more under contract.

Launched in May 2023, the AP300 small modular reactor (SMR) is a single-loop pressurised water reactor based on the AP1000 technology. The company hopes to get design certification by 2027, with construction of a first unit beginning in 2030 and operation slated for 2033.