Aecon Group Inc. announced that a partnership between Aecon, GE Hitachi and SNC-Lavalin has executed a six-year alliance agreement with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to deliver North America's first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) through the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) in Clarington, Ontario. Under an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model, OPG serves as the license holder and will maintain overall responsibility for the project, including operator training, commissioning, Indigenous engagement, stakeholder outreach and oversight. GE Hitachi is the technology developer responsible for design, procurement of major components, engineering and support.

SNC-Lavalin is the architect and engineer providing design, engineering and procurement support. Aecon is the provider of all construction services, including project management, construction planning and execution. Site preparation and related work is currently underway and SMR construction is expected to reach completion in the fourth quarter of 2028.

The Darlington SMR will be a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor, a new class of nuclear reactors that provide up to 300 megawatts of electric power – enough to supply over 300,000 homes – and have been designed to reduce construction costs compared to traditional nuclear generating stations.