Rolls-Royce expands Canadian presence
Rolls-Royce today announced the opening of its third Nuclear Services office in Canada. The office, in Port Elgin, Ontario, will be the focal point of the implementation of the T-104 optimisation program across Bruce Power, the company said.
The technology exploits so-called Big Data - a term used for data sets of a very large size, typically so large that its manipulation and management present significant logistical challenges. With suitable analysis tools, Big Data can be used to reveal useful business and operational information such as previously unrecognised trends or behaviour.
"Big Data analytics is a core competency at Rolls-Royce," Paul Tobin, the company's executive vice president for nuclear projects and services, said. "We developed this capability in our aerospace business where monitoring and mining the enormous data volumes continuously generated by aircraft engines and other aircraft systems has allowed us to achieve massive reductions in operating costs, while concurrently improving safety and reliability. We are now applying the same know-how coupled with our worldwide nuclear operating data and expertise to deliver high-value solutions for the nuclear power generation industry."
Bruce Power CEO Mike Rencheck said the contract promised benefits including operating cost savings. "By aligning with strong partners we can get the work done that will allow us to continue supplying 30% of Ontario's electricity at 30% less than the average cost to generate residential power," he said.
Bruce Power's eight Candu reactors provide 30% of Ontario's electricity and played a central role in the province's phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation. In January last year, the company launched its multi-year Life-Extension Program under an agreement with the Independent Electricity System Operator, the government corporation responsible for Ontario's power supply. Bruce unit 6 will be the first unit to undergo refurbishment, beginning in 2020, and the program, which will take until 2053 to complete, will ensure the units' continued operation until 2064.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News