Westinghouse Electric, SRC Receive Funding for eVinci Microreactor Development

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has received funding from the Canadian government to develop and operate the first model of the eVinci microreactor. Last year, the SRC and Westinghouse Electric signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly deploy an eVinci microreactor in Saskatchewan for application in the industrial, research, and energy use sectors.

A Saskatchewan Premier, Scott Moe, said that the SRC’s $80 million in federal funding will support licensing and overall work for the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2029. The specific location of the eVinci microreactor will be determined as the project moves along.

Westinghouse Electric began its vendor design review process with Canada’s Nuclear Safety Commission in June of this year. In addition to Canadian validation, the company is also seeking regulatory joint-review for its technology with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The DOE recently granted Westinghouse funding to plan the location of the eVinci test microreactor at the Idaho National Lab.

The test reactor is a 1/5 scale representation of an eVinci microreactor, and it will allow design finalization, testing, and licensing of the technology. In 2022, the Canadian government awarded Westinghouse a grant from the Strategic Innovation Fund to continue the development of its nuclear technology.

“Westinghouse is proud to be working with the team at SRC on this project, and for the support from Premier Moe and the government of Saskatchewan,” said Patrick Fragman, President and CEO, Westinghouse. “The eVinci battery technology is the perfect fit for Saskatchewan since it is fully transportable. It also provides carbon-free electricity and heat, uses no water and can be completely removed from site after operating continuously for eight years or more.”

The eVinci microreactor generates carbon-free, scalable energy for a number of applications, including electricity and heating in remote communities, universities, mining operations, industrial centers, data centers, and defense facilities, with additional plans for lunar surface deployment. This technology contains few moving parts, operating as a battery to provide versatility for power systems ranging from several kW to 5 MW of electricity. It has the capability to deliver this power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for upwards of 8 years without refueling.

The microreactor technology can produce high-temperature heat for industrial applications, such as alternative fuel production with hydrogen, and has the flexibility to balance renewable output. Westinghouse Electric factory-builds and assembles the technology before it is shipped via container to its location.