Hydro One has tapped AtkinsRéalis Group to lead the expansion of the Bowmanville Switching Station – a key component in the expansion of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.

The expansion will connect the planned four small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site to the province’s electricity grid.

"Delivering nation-building energy projects in Canada and around the world has been a hallmark of our work in the Power & Renewables sector for decades," said AtkinsRéalis CEO Ian L. Edwards. "Our sector has been involved in marquee projects globally, supported by our centre of excellence in Canada. AtkinsRéalis is perfectly suited to deliver work on this substation, which is a critical link in supplying electricity from the Darlington New Nuclear Project to the people of southern Ontario, including Toronto." 

AtkinsRéalis will provide engineering, as well as project and program management services to Hydro One. The engineering work will support the establishment of a new 500 kV switchyard next to the existing substation site – doubling its capacity and expanding the site by an anticipated 30-40 acres. This new capacity will relieve current power congestion along transmission corridors in the area. The expansion is planned for completion prior to all four SMRs coming online.

The project will also see the installation of new breakers, disconnect switches, and all supporting equipment. The site is also being planned to contain a new multi-purpose building to house control, protection, telecommunication and auxiliary equipment. New line entrance structures will enable the interconnection of high voltage transmission lines to evacuate the power generated into the Hydro One power grid.

AtkinsRéalis is currently executing several major Power & Renewables elsewhere in Canada. The firm is acting as the owner’s engineer on the Champlain Hudson Power Express project, a 545-kilometre buried cable transmission line carrying 1,250 MW of clean power from Quebec to New York City. It is also providing engineering and design services to TES Canada for their Projet Mauricie green hydrogen hub in Quebec – one of the largest clean hydrogen projects in the country.