Bruce Power, Rolls-Royce sign multi-year co-operative agreement for nuclear station life extension

Bruce Power and Rolls-Royce have signed an agreement to implement Rolls-Royce’s innovative digital analytics tools as part of the nuclear generating company's Life-Extension Program.

As stated in the contract, Rolls-Royce will implement its proven digital technology designed to optimize the operational life of nuclear power plants, known as T-104. The digital technology utilizes worldwide nuclear operating data to provide best-in-class asset management services to the Bruce Power fleet. This enables Rolls-Royce to convert that intelligence into valuable insights to help Bruce Power improve the operational efficiency of its plants.

Rolls-Royce employees will be embedded within Bruce Power so the two organizations can work closely together to use Rolls-Royce’s powerful, demand-driven forecasting data, improving equipment reliability and reducing inventories and maintenance and materials costs, while improving operational and supply chain practices. The end result is expected to be dramatic operating cost reductions, as well as major reductions in capital tied up in parts inventories.

“Big data analytics is a core competency at Rolls-Royce,” said Paul Tobin, executive vice-president at the company’s Nuclear Digital Services unit. “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.”

Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s president and chief executive officer, is pleased to work with Rolls-Royce on this contract, which promises operating cost savings among other benefits.

“By aligning with strong partners, we can get the work done that will allow us to continue supplying 30 per cent of Ontario’s electricity at 30 per cent less than the average cost to generate residential power," he said.

To support its growing relationship with Bruce Power, Rolls-Royce has also announced it is opening its third Nuclear Services office in Canada - in Port Elgin. The Port Elgin office is expected to be the focal point of the multi-year implementation of Rolls-Royce’s T-104 optimization program across Bruce Power. It will draw support from other Rolls-Royce facilities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Peterborough, Ontario.

“The importance of expanding our local supply chain network to provide low-cost services close to site, has been a commitment of mine over the past year,” Rencheck said. “I applaud Rolls-Royce for its expansion into the region. The company will be a great community asset, creating high-skilled jobs, supporting community economic development, and enabling innovation in the region.”

“Rolls-Royce has been a key partner with Bruce Power on a number of projects," said Tobin, "and we are pleased to further strengthen our commitment to plant life-extension work with a local presence and a team on hand to support Bruce Power, and be part of the community.”