Nuclear

Westinghouse to file eVinci docs in bid to speed NRC licensing process

The topical reports are created in an effort to gain early NRC approval on critical aspects of the technology and design.
Westinghouse to file eVinci docs in bid to speed NRC licensing process
Westinghouse's eVinci micro reactor (Source: Westinghouse).

Westinghouse Electric Co. said it filed a Notice of Intent to submit licensing reports for its eVinci microreactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for joint review. 

The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in 2019 to facilitate such technical reviews of advanced nuclear technologies.

Last fall, we visited the Westinghouse research and development facility near Pittsburgh and produced this report on the technology and what we saw.

The report topics for joint review include a common set of key requirements for the classification of systems, structures and components for the eVinci microreactor. This approach is expected to enable deployment of a standard design in both countries. Other topics for review are defining the necessary transportation requirements for shipment of the eVinci microreactor across the border and factory safety testing and inspection programs.

Westinghouse said the first two topical reports for formal NRC review were delivered in December, ahead of schedule. The topical reports are created in an effort to gain early NRC approval on critical aspects of the technology and design.

The eVinci Microreactor is designed to provide around 5 MW of electricity for more than eight years without refueling, and is expected to be factory built and assembled before it is shipped in a container.

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