It required a lot of heavy lifting, but all eight hulking steam generators have now been placed into Unit 3 to advance Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program and Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project.
It was capped off Feb. 12 with the steam drum being set atop a row of steam generators. The Unit 3 MCR outage, which began in 2023, remains on track as the company and its partners look to return the renewed unit to service in 2026 to provide clean and reliable electricity to Ontario’s homes, businesses and hospitals for decades to come at a time when the provinces electricity needs are forecast to increase by as much as 75 per cent.
Over the past six months, Bruce Power and the Steam Generator Replacement Team (SGRT) — a 50/50 joint venture between Aecon and SGT (a partnership between Framatome Canada Ltd. and United Canadian Operations Ltd.) – have orchestrated the lifting of these massive, 100-tonne steam generators out of the Bruce A station through the roof, then lifting the new ones back in using Mammoet’s towering PTC-35 crane, which stands more than 100-metres high. First, the 300-tonne steam drums had to be moved out of the way on a track system and set aside for inspection and maintenance.
“This was a huge undertaking that required more than a year-and-a-half of planning just to get to the execution phase, which was delivered safely and successfully through a high degree of collaboration,” said Rob Hoare, Bruce Power’s Vice-President of MCR Execution. “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in supporting this successful outcome, including our partners and the skilled tradespeople who helped make this possible.”
The Unit 3 steam generator replacement is another excellent example of the nuclear industry helping to drive Ontario’s economy, with upwards of 97 per cent of the approximately $250-million in privately funded cost being spent on parts and labour within the province.
SGRT’s peak resourcing includes approximately 425 people, including 320 skilled tradespeople with the rest in project management (engineers, technicians, co-ordinators, project managers, quality inspectors, etc.)
While the Unit 3 steam generators were produced by BWXT in Cambridge approximately 20 years ago and stored on the Bruce Power site, the company continues to work ahead on components for the remainder of the MCR project. Last August, Bruce Power and SGRT signed a $700-million contract for the replacement of steam generators in the remaining MCR outages in Units 5, 7 and 8.
“This milestone demonstrates the success of our team on the Bruce MCR project in executing steam generator replacements safely, on time and with excellent quality,” said Aaron Johnson, Senior Vice-President, Nuclear, Aecon Group Inc. “As the construction partner for SGRT, Aecon is playing a key role, creating jobs, generating economic development opportunities and further expanding Ontario’s strong nuclear supply chain.”
“We’re committed to bringing Framatome’s innovation, expertise and lessons learned to each steam generator replacement our teams, along with those of our partners in the joint venture, perform at Bruce Power,” said Erik Dorman, Executive Vice-President of Framatome’s Installed Base Business Unit in North America. “We will continue to plan ahead and deliver safely and with the highest quality to ensure the Bruce MCR remains on schedule to meet the clean energy demand in Ontario.”
“Mammoet is proud to partner with Bruce Power and provide a heavy lift solution for moving these massive components, safely and successfully,” said Alex Scott, Mammoet Global Commercial Manager, Nuclear. “Our specialized services are helping deliver Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement Project to renew units to provide clean electricity to the people of Ontario for decades to come.”
“Our team brings innovative solutions, expertise and lessons learned to improve performance on each steam generator replacement working with Bruce Power as part of SGRT,” said Art Lembo, President of SGT.
About Bruce Power
Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory, 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 nuclear power to families and businesses across the province and cancer-fighting 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.
