Bruce Power’s Bruce A generating station will see all four operating units (Units 1-4) removed from service for its planned Vacuum Building Outage (VBO), beginning May 9.
Vacuum buildings are unique to multi-unit CANDU generating stations and are part of their robust safety systems, providing an additional protective barrier to the release of radioactivity to the environment. All four operating units must be shut down once every 12 years to allow for inspections and maintenance to the vacuum building.
During the Vacuum Building Outage, Bruce Power is investing in an innovative new filtration system which will provide an extra layer of safety and protection for the public and the surrounding environment. The new system is expected to be fully commissioned and available by the end of 2022.
“With four operating units out of service, this is not a typical outage campaign,” said Frank Payne, Vice President of Bruce A. “Years of planning and preparation goes into our VBO outages and we are ready to safely carry out our maintenance and inspection work and successfully return these units to service.”
Bruce Power works closely with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to ensure the timing of these outages can be accommodated to meet the needs of the province’s electricity grid. VBOs are scheduled during periods of the year when demand is expected to be low – usually the spring or fall. This allows Bruce Power to make sure its units will be operational for the summer peak period, providing about 30 per cent of Ontario’s electricity with zero carbon emissions at a time when reliable energy is most needed.
About Bruce Power
Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable, low-cost nuclear power to families and businesses across the province and life-saving medical isotopes around the world. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is a Canadian-owned partnership of TC Energy, OMERS, the Power Workers’ Union and The Society of United Professionals. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
