CORE POWER, Westinghouse Develops Microreactor-Equipped Floating Nuclear Plants

Westinghouse Electric Co. and CORE POWER signed an agreement to design, develop, and advance a floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) design equipped with the eVinci microreactor and its heat pipe technology. Additionally, the companies will establish a regulatory approach to license FNPP systems.

“With this agreement, we will demonstrate the viability of the eVinci technology for use cases where power is needed in remote locations or in areas with land limitations,” said Jon Ball, President of eVinci Technologies at Westinghouse. “We look forward to our partnership with CORE POWER, bringing the advantages of eVinci microreactors to maritime and coastal applications, potentially even paving the way for future disaster relief efforts.”

FNPP Features

FNPPs can be easily manufactured and transported to operation sites, providing nuclear energy to islands, ports, coastal communities, and industries with shipyard efficiency. These plants are complemented by the eVinci microreactor’s minimal maintenance requirements and extensive refueling intervals. Prior to refueling, the microreactor can run for eight years to deliver long-term power generation at most sites.

Floating nuclear power plant and eVinci microreactor; image credit: Business Wire

“There’s no net-zero without nuclear,” said Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER. “A series of identical turnkey power plants using multiple installations of the Westinghouse eVinci microreactor delivered by sea creates an opportunity to scale nuclear as the perfect solution to meet the rapidly growing demand for clean, flexible, and reliable electricity delivered on time and on budget. Our partnership with Westinghouse is a game changer for how customers buy nuclear energy.”

eVinci Microreactor

Westinghouse’s proprietary microreactor technology operates as a battery with few moving parts, providing 24/7 versatility and power in systems from several kW to 5 MW of electricity. It delivers zero-carbon, scalable energy and heating for numerous applications, such as:

• Remote communities
• Universities
• Mining operations
• Industrial centers
• Data centers
• Defense facilities
• Planned lunar and space exploration

The high-temperature heat is generated via heat pipe technology—a non-pressurized method to passively transfer heat from the nuclear core to a power conversion system, eliminating water cooling and recirculation systems. The heat is typically used for hydrogen fuel production and balances renewable output. eVinci microreactors are factory-built and assembled prior to shipping via container.

Westinghouse News

In June 2024, Westinghouse and Bloom Energy Corp. agreed to explore, identify, and implement clean hydrogen production projects across the commercial nuclear power market and jointly develop an optimized, large-scale, and high-temperature integrated electrolysis solution for the industry. The ability of nuclear plants to operate continuously and provide steam input makes them an ideal companion to electrolyzer technology, capable of producing large quantities of clean hydrogen without disrupting ongoing operations.

Hydrogen generated from nuclear plants can be applied to several industries, including renewable fuels production, oil and metals refining, ammonia synthesis, mining operations, and mobility for heavy trucks, buses, and air travel. Westinghouse and Bloom can also support the U.S. Department of Energy’s hydrogen hub development.

And, in February, Westinghouse signed an agreement with Community Nuclear Power to accelerate the deployment of a privately financed small modular reactor (SMR) fleet. The Westinghouse AP300 SMR will be deployed with commercial operation scheduled for the early 2030s.