Nuclear Power Plant Refurbishment: Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement Program: Replacement of High-Pressure Steam Turbines to Increase Output at Four Nuclear Power Units is Latest Effort

     Canada’s Bruce Power announced it will upgrade the high-pressure steam turbines at its Bruce A nuclear power units with Siemens turbines, which will result in an increase of 30MW of power for each unit, or nearly 125 MW total. The upgrades are expected to be completed between 2028 and 2031.

     According to Interesting Engineering:

“Upgrading a power plant is the fastest way to get more energy onto the grid,” stated Arne Wohlschlegel, Managing Director of Siemens Energy Canada. “When this upgrade is complete, Bruce Power will be able to deliver more clean energy throughout Ontario and extend the life of this plant for another 30 years.”

     The company is in the process of its Major Component Replacement program, which involves upgrading or replacing critical reactor components, including steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes, and feeder tubes. It is expected to add 30-35 years to the operating life of each reactor. These kinds of upgrades are key to extending the lives of important nuclear power plants.

     Bruce Power's Project 2030 involves several measures aimed at increasing the company’s nuclear output to 7000 MW.

     World Nuclear News reports:

“The Bruce Power site in Tiverton, Ontario, consists of eight units - four in Bruce A and four in Bruce B. Bruce A includes two Candu-791 reactors and two Candu-750 reactors. Bruce B has four Candu-750s. The federal government announced CAD50 million (USD36 million) of funding in February last year to support pre-development work to study the feasibility of building 4800 MWe of new generating capacity, as Bruce C.”

     The ongoing MCR program will conrinue to provide significant jobs and economic benefits.

“As we stare down President Trump’s tariff threat, I am proud that well over 90 percent of all materials purchased are stamped with ‘Made in Canada,’ creating over 20,000 jobs for Ontario’s skilled workforce,” the province’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, says.

     The company’s nuclear reactors also produce medical isotopes. Medical isotopes are a critical part of radiopharmaceuticals, which are used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases and cancer. As noted below, there are two ways to make medical isotopes: cyclotrons and nuclear reactors. The ones made with nuclear reactors are more durable and longer-lasting.

     A press release from April noted the positive economic and energy security effects of the replacement program.

“The privately funded projects generate $10 billion in annual economic activity, bolstering local and provincial economies while strengthening Canada’s energy independence.”

“Ontario has become a world leader in nuclear power plant refurbishment and, along with our partners and skilled tradespeople, we continue to prove that these complex major projects can be delivered with the highest standards of safety and quality, on time and on budget,” said Eric Chassard, Bruce Power President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program is Canada’s largest private sector clean energy infrastructure project, with about 90 per cent of purchasing in Canada, supporting hundreds of businesses throughout the province.”

     The company’s refurbishment efforts should be a model for other nuclear power plants to upgrade and modernize components if they can.

 

 

References:

 

Bruce Power plans mighty turbines to boost nuclear plant output by 125 megawatts. Sujita Sinha. Interesting Engineering. November 25, 2025. Bruce Power plans mighty turbines to boost nuclear plant output by 125 megawatts

40-year-old nuclear reactor gets massive rebuild to power Canada for 35 years. Georgina Jedikovska. Interesting Engineering. April 9, 2025. Bruce Power's Unit 5 nuclear refurbishment approved for 2026 start

Bruce A set for power boost from Siemens Energy steam turbines. World Nuclear News. November 24, 2025. Bruce A set for power boost from Siemens Energy steam turbines - World Nuclear News

What exactly are medical isotopes? NRG Pallas. What exactly are medical isotopes? | NRG PALLAS

IESO green-lights Unit 5 Major Component Replacement project, securing reliable Canadian-made electricity for decades. Bruce Power. April 7, 2025. IESO green-lights Unit 5 Major Component Replacement project, securing reliable Canadian-made electricity for decades - Bruce Power