Editing Gentilly Nuclear Generating Station

{{Short description|12ommissioned nuclear power plant in Bécancour, Quebec}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox power station
| name                = Gentilly Nuclear Generating Station
| image               = Centrale nucléaire Gentilly.jpg
| image_caption       = The Gentilly-2 (left) and Gentilly-1 (right)<br/>nuclear generating stations
| location_map_size  = 
| location_map_caption   = 
| coordinates = {{coord|46|23|45|N|72|21|25|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| name_official       = Centrale nucléaire de Gentilly
| country             = Canada 
| location              = [[Bécancour, Quebec]]
| status              = [[SAFSTOR|safe storage]] ([[spent fuel pool|pools]])<br/>pending dismantling
| construction_began  = 1973
| commissioned        = {{start date|1983|10|1}}
| decommissioned      = {{end date|2012|12|28}}
| cost                = [[Canadian dollar|CAD]] 1.3 billion 
| owner               = [[Hydro-Québec]]
| operator            = [[Hydro-Québec]]
| ps_units_operational = None
| ps_units_uc   = 
| ps_units_planned = 
| ps_units_cancelled     = 1 × 640&nbsp;MW
|ps_units_decommissioned    = 1 × 250&nbsp;MW<br/>1 × 675&nbsp;MW
| np_reactor_type       = [[CANDU reactor|CANDU]]-[[Boiling water reactor|BWR]]<br/>[[CANDU reactor|CANDU]] [[Pressurized heavy-water reactor|PHWR]]
| np_reactor_supplier    = [[Atomic Energy of Canada Limited]]
| ps_electrical_capacity = <!-- sum of gross reactor power [MW]-->925
| ps_electrical_cap_fac     = 76.4%
| ps_annual_generation  =   3,491
| website             = [http://www.hydroquebec.com/decommissioning-gentilly-2/ Hydro-Québec: Gentilly-2]
}}

'''Gentilly Nuclear Generating Station''' (''Centrale nucléaire de Gentilly'' in French) is a former [[nuclear power station]] located on the south shore of the [[St. Lawrence River]] in [[Bécancour, Quebec]], 100&nbsp;km north east of [[Montreal]]. The site contained two [[nuclear reactor]]s;  Gentilly-1, a 250&nbsp;MW CANDU-BWR prototype, that was marred by technical problems and shut down in 1977, and Gentilly-2, a 675-MW [[CANDU|CANDU-6]] reactor operated commercially by the [[Crown corporation|government-owned]] [[public utility]] [[Hydro-Québec]] between 1983 and 2012. These were the only power generating nuclear reactors in Quebec.<ref group="note">There is also a [[SLOWPOKE reactor|SLOWPOKE research reactor]] at Montreal's [[École Polytechnique de Montréal|École Polytechnique]].</ref>

The Gentilly reactors were constructed in stages between 1966 and 1983 and were originally part of a plan for 30-35 nuclear reactors in Quebec.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xHFkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zH0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=919,4186632 |title= Minister wants referendum on nuclear power plants |work= Calgary Herald |date= 10 February 1977 |access-date= 2012-09-11 |agency= Canadian Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=fr |work=Afrique Expansion Magazine |title=Québec : le dangereux retour de l'énergie nucléaire ? |url=http://www.afriqueexpansion.com/le-blog-de-marie-claude-fafard/1005-quebec-le-dangereux-retour-de-lenergie-nucleaire-.html |author=Marie-Claude Fafard |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=2012-09-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030155057/http://www.afriqueexpansion.com/le-blog-de-marie-claude-fafard/1005-quebec-le-dangereux-retour-de-lenergie-nucleaire-.html |archive-date=2014-10-30 }}</ref> A third reactor, Gentilly-3, was scheduled to be built on the same site but was cancelled because of a drop in demand growth in the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite news|first=Hélène |last=Baril |title=Libéraux et péquistes, promoteurs du nucléaire au Québec |work=La Presse |location=Montreal |url=http://affaires.lapresse.ca/economie/energie-et-ressources/201210/03/01-4579748-liberaux-et-pequistes-promoteurs-du-nucleaire-au-quebec.php |date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=December 28, 2012 |language=fr}}</ref>

In October 2012, it was decided for economic reasons not to proceed with the refurbishment of Gentilly-2, and to decommission the power plant instead. The process will take approximately 50 years to complete.<ref name="Lapresse Marois">{{cite web|author=Lapresse.ca |url=http://www.lapresse.ca/le-nouvelliste/gentilly-2/201209/20/01-4575998-pauline-marois-ferme-gentilly-2.php |title=Pauline Marois ferme Gentilly-2 |access-date=2012-09-20|language=fr}}</ref> That December, the remaining reactor was shut down and the decommissioning process started.<ref name="CBC shutdown">{{cite news|author=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |author-link=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |title=Gentilly-2 nuclear plant shuts down after 29 years |work=CBC.ca |date=December 28, 2012 |access-date=December 28, 2012 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-s-gentilly-2-nuclear-plant-shuts-down-after-29-years-1.1159855}}</ref>

In August 2023, Hydro-Québec reported it was assessing the state of the plant to determine whether or not the Gentilly-2 CANDU reactor could be recommissioned. This came as the province of Quebec looked towards options to increase its production of clean electricity.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hydro-Quebec-mulls-Gentilly-2-recommissioning | title=Hydro-Québec mulls Gentilly 2 recommissioning : Corporate - World Nuclear News }}</ref> It was decided to not proceed with recommissioning Gentilly-2 due to social acceptability issues.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://montrealgazette.com/business/hydro-quebec-to-keep-studying-nuclear-energy-ceo | title=Hydro-Québec to keep studying nuclear energy: CEO }}</ref>

==Gentilly-1==
Gentilly-1 was a prototype CANDU-[[Boiling water reactor|BWR]] reactor, based on the [[SGHWR]] design. It was designed for a net output of 250MW(e). The reactor had several features unique amongst CANDU reactors, including vertically oriented pressure tubes (allowing for the use of a single fuelling machine below the core), and light-water coolant. These features were intended to reduce the cost and complexity of the unit, again to make it an attractive export unit. However, the design was not successful, and over 7 years recorded only 180 on-power days. Gentilly-1 is no longer in operation.

==Gentilly-2==
Gentilly-2 was a standard CANDU 6 reactor, similar to the [[Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station]]. The plant had a net output of 675MW(e). Unlike the adjacent Gentilly-1 reactor, Gentilly-2 had a good service record since start-up in 1982, with a cumulative operating factor of 76.4%.<ref name="PRIS">{{cite web|url=http://www.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.aspx?current=32 |title=Gentilly-2|author=International Atomic Energy Agency |work=Power Reactor Information System |date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=2012-12-14}}</ref>

In an August 19, 2008 announcement, Québec planned to spend $1.9B to overhaul Gentilly-2 in order to extend its lifespan to 2040.<ref name="$1.9B">{{cite web | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-to-spend-1-9b-on-lone-nuclear-power-plant-1.741158 | title = Quebec to spend $1.9B on lone nuclear power plant | work=[[CBC.ca]] | date = 2008-08-19 | access-date = 2008-08-19 }}</ref> Refurbishment of the reactor was eventually cancelled when on 3 October 2012, Hydro-Quebec's CEO, Thierry Vandal, announced the decommissioning of the Gentilly-2 generating station for economic reasons, scheduled to occur on 28 December 2012 at 10:30&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="CBC shutdown" /><ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Hydro-Québec|title=Hydro-Québec confirms Gentilly-2 closure at the end of 2012 |url=http://news.hydroquebec.com/en/press-releases/185/hydro-quebec-confirms-gentilly-2-closure-at-the-end-of-2012/|date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> At that time, a [[nuclear decommissioning|decommissioning]] process will proceed over a period of 50 years and is expected to cost $1.8 billion.<ref>{{cite news|author=CBC News |author-link=CBC News |title=Quebec nuclear reactor shutdown will cost $1.8 billion |date=3 October 2012 |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-nuclear-reactor-shutdown-will-cost-1-8-billion-1.1159201 |access-date=4 October 2012}}</ref> The permanent shut down and decommissioning of the power plant followed an election pledge from Quebec premier [[Pauline Marois]].<ref name="Lapresse Marois" />

The Gentilly site also houses a 411MW [[gas turbine]] generation plant. The Bécancour generating station was commissioned in 1992-1993.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hydro-Québec |url=http://www.hydroquebec.com/generation/centrale-thermique.html |title=Thermal generating stations |access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref>

==Gentilly-3==
Gentilly-3 was a proposed nuclear reactor at the Gentilly site. It was cancelled by Quebec Premier [[René Lévesque]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201209/01/01-4570392-les-enjeux-oublies-de-la-campagne.php |title= Les enjeux oubliés de la campagne |date= 1 September 2012 |access-date= 2012-09-11 |author= Vincent Broussea-Pouliot |work= La Presse |location=Montreal|language=fr}}</ref> A white book study published by the [[Parti Québécois]] (PQ) before ascending to power found that Gentilly-3 was not needed for Quebec's future energy needs and that it could be fulfilled with [[hydroelectricity]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.placesdaffaires.com/Opinion/Commentaires/2011-04-07/article-2408904/Partisanerie-sur-le-dos-de-Gentilly/1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210514140813/http://www.placesdaffaires.com/Opinion/Commentaires/2011-04-07/article-2408904/Partisanerie-sur-le-dos-de-Gentilly/1 |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 14, 2021 |title= Partisanerie sur le dos de Gentilly |author= François Cattapan |date= 5 April 2011 |access-date= 2012-09-11 |language= fr }}</ref> After the election of the PQ government, a moratorium on construction of nuclear plants was put into place. The reactor had been scheduled to be completed before 1990, and was the last reactor firmly committed to by [[Hydro-Québec]] and the Province of Quebec, though Quebec had committed to buy enough heavy water for four Candu style reactors, processed by the La Prade heavy water plant (near [[Trois-Rivières]]), scheduled for 1982 opening.<ref name=Gazette-1977-12-08>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JYMuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lKEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1580,173744 |title= Quebec Reprieves Heavy Water Plant |date= 8 December 1977 |access-date= 2012-09-11 |author= Ian Anderson |work= The Gazette | location=Montreal }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Canada|Energy|Nuclear technology}}
* [[Economy of Quebec]]
* [[List of electrical generating stations in Quebec]]
* [[List of power stations in Canada]]

==References==
;Notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

;References
{{Reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160603133820/http://www.hydroquebec.com/generation/centrale-nucleaire/index.html Hydro-Québec Gentilly-2 page]

{{Nuclear power in Canada}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nuclear power stations in Quebec]]
[[Category:Hydro-Québec]]
[[Category:Nuclear power stations using CANDU reactors]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Centre-du-Québec]]
[[Category:Former power stations in Canada]]