Thread by @TomHess_

We built this for you, our Pickering #CANDU 🇨🇦 Nuclear Plant.

Even back in the environmental dark ages, we knew it was a much better choice than a coal fired plant. Clean #nuclearenergy for everyone, for Toronto, for Ontario, for Canada, for the future.

Then it was your turn.

As Pickering B reached its 30-year theoretical limit of pressure tube life in 2006, you started a project for mid-life refurbishment.

Good move.

The OPG process made its way though a CNSC environmental assessment & preliminary plans were developed.

collections.ola.org/mon/17000/2739…

Somehow, you lost your way, which eventually proved both good & bad.

In 2010, OPG decided to run Pickering into the ground instead.

Reasons were not well articulated at the time, Cost was mentioned. Equipment or design issues were popular speculation.

web.archive.org/web/2010031619…

We now know the reasoning for the decision. It should be said no defects were cited, only a series of risks, some of which now appear somewhat dubious.

This briefing note covers cost effectiveness, technical points, regulatory risks, & schedule impacts.

rds.oeb.ca/CMWebDrawer/Re…

• Post refurb economics pegged Pickering B's energy cost at $96/MWh vs Darlington's projected $80/MWh.

Refurbishment was far cheaper than GEA contracts handed out shortly thereafter.

Current day cost projection is covered in detail in this recent post.

• Plant design is complex
• Units are small

We know that. That's why the post per unit energy cost will be higher. The reasons Pickering B units were built this way, while being the same vintage as Bruce B, have been covered several times in the past.

• Pickering B units don’t meet modern standards

From what we know, Pickering B safety systems meet modern standards, same as any CANDU 6. A statement in the briefing note is misleading. It seems to be based on Pickering A.

Compare plant features here.
canfornuclearenergy.org/post/safety-fe…

• Shutdown would have impact on OPG fleet to meet power demands
• Shutdown would interfere with plans to refurbish Darlington

OPG decided to dump Pickering to protect the Darlington refurbishment, & probably new build plans. Fortunately, they kept it running on extended life.

• Pressure tube life is 30 years

Continued operation of Pickering B, & Bruce B for that matter, have demonstrated that 30 years was wrong. We are now looking at life of 40 years or more, which significantly improves the economies of scale.

#Pickering2075 🇨🇦 is possible.

• Pickering B units retain significant risk of less-than-optimal performance.

Even in their current extended operation state, performance has continually improved. With a refurbishment, including uprates, performance can improve even further.

#NetZeroNeedsPickering 🇨🇦

So here we are. Is there a business case for Pickering B refurbishment? It's close. Does there need to be?

It's obvious that we will be directing big $$$$$ into climate action. Send a few Pickering's way & voila, cost effective payback with decades of life.

Is OPG interested?

Seems Pickering is too much work, but nuclear sites are hard to find. Procuring new ones is next to impossible.

Closing Pickering will be a major setback & loss. It's time to look at other options to keep it open.

Now it is up to you to do it for them!

#SavePickering 🇨🇦

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