Canadians may be one step closer to having a reliable energy alternative to fossil fuels.
The Westinghouse Electric Company finished the Front-End Engineering and Experimenting Design (FEEED) phase of development for its eVinci nuclear microreactor, according to a Wednesday press release.
The eVinci microreactor is designed to be a next-generation, micro-modular reactor primarily aimed at decentralized, remote applications. Unlike traditional nuclear reactors, which might require vast areas and significant water resources, the eVinci is designed for flexibility and minimal environmental impact. It boasts a compact design with an above-ground installation, requiring less than a 2-acre footprint, which drastically reduces ground disruption.
The machine generates 5 megawatts of electrical power (MWe) and delivers up to 15 megawatts thermal (MWth). This capacity suits small communities, remote military bases, and industrial operations where traditional grid power is impractical or unavailable.
“Westinghouse is the first reactor developer to reach this milestone in support of siting its test reactor at NRIC’s Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL),” according to the company.
It employs heat pipe technology, which eliminates the need for traditional reactor coolant systems. These passive heat transport devices simplify the reactor’s design and enhance safety by removing water from the cooling process, reducing both complexity and potential failure points.
The design includes diverse and redundant safety features, such as accident-tolerant fuel and passive heat removal systems. In the event of a shutdown, control drums automatically rotate to a safe position, allowing the reactor to manage its heat without operator intervention.
Engineers designed the eVinci for transportability, making it easy to deliver power to remote areas or disaster-stricken regions.
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Westinghouse also submitted safety design report
Beyond power generation, the eVinci supports nuclear research, such as neutron activation analysis, with flexible irradiation sites. This dual-purpose design offers significant value for both energy production and scientific research.
Westinghouse also submitted its Preliminary Safety Design Report (PSDR) to the Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center, advancing the reactor’s path toward commercialization and deployment. This submission demonstrates the eVinci’s readiness for further development.
“This PSDR submission is a critical step to bringing the Westinghouse eVinci Microreactor to commercial operation,” said Jon Ball, president of eVinci Technologies at Westinghouse.
“We are targeting deployment of multiple eVinci microreactors across the world by the end of the decade, and the strong and continued partnership with INL and the Department of Energy is instrumental to our efforts.”
Brad Tomer, acting director of the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), stated that filing the safety design report for the “eVinci test reactor is an important step towards enabling a microreactor developer to perform a test in our DOME facility.”
NRIC is conducting tests and accelerating the development of advanced nuclear technologies to deliver clean energy solutions for the U.S.
This phase enables developers to plan, design, and fabricate experiments for testing at the DOME, the world’s first microreactor test bed.
Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor leads three other designs that could potentially begin testing at the DOME lab in 2026.
The micro nuclear reactor features a 15MWth core design capable of outputting 5MWe. According to Westinghouse, the reactor’s core will operate for at least eight years before requiring refueling. Furthermore, it can function on sites as small as two acres, making it an ideal energy solution for remote mining operations and data centers while cutting 55,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
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