Nuclear

Agreement would bring Westinghouse micro-reactor to Saskatchewan

Westinghouse and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) signed an MOU to advance nuclear micro-reactors the Canadian province.
Agreement would bring Westinghouse micro-reactor to Saskatchewan
(Source: Business Wire)

Westinghouse and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) signed a memorandum of understanding to advance nuclear micro-reactors the Canadian province.

The two said they will work to site Westinghouse’s eVinci micro-reactor in Saskatchewan for the development and testing of industrial, research, and energy use purposes.

(Read “DOE decision on building fast reactor is coming soon.”)

Westinghouse touts the micro-reactor’s solid core and advanced heat pipes, which enable passive core heat extraction and allow for autonomous operation and load following capabilities. The reactor is designed to provide up to 5 MWe of combined heat and power.

According to the company, other benefits of eVinci include an easily transportable generator; a 40-year design life with three-plus year refueling interval; and a target of less than 30 days of on-site installation.

The eVinci micro-reactor and surrounding infrastructure is approximately half the size of a hockey rink, according to a release sent May 18.

In March 2022, we reported that the Canadian government is investing C$27 million ($21.35 million) to support Westinghouse’s eVinci micro-reactor, so the C$57 million ($45.1 million) project can be licensed in the country.

Canada’s SMR Action Plan would facilitate teamwork including governmental, provincial, indigenous, local, power utilities, industrial, research laboratories and more in making more affordable, smaller footprint nuclear energy possible.

In December 2021, Westinghouse announced that it had filed a pre-application Regulatory Engagement Plan with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), detailing the planned pre-licensing application interactions for the eVinci micro-reactor.

More than a year earlier, eVinci was awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Project Pele, a mobile nuclear reactor prototyping program.

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