Westinghouse is working on a floating nuclear power plant with the eVinci microreactor

Westinghouse and Prodigy Clean Energy are working together to develop a transportable floating nuclear power plant. A pilot project for a plant featuring an eVinci microreactor is expected to be built in Canada by 2030. Westinghouse’s modular reactor has an electrical output of 5 MW or a thermal output of 14 MW. 

The US company Westinghouse outlined its ongoing collaboration on a floating nuclear power plant on its blog. It has been working on the TNPP (transportable nuclear power plant) project with Prodigy Clean Energy since 2019. The initial study aimed to identify a reliable, clean energy source for remote locations without energy infrastructure, where diesel generators are commonly used.

“There is significant interest in developing this project and ensuring its success, not only among our companies but also among stakeholders who recognise the strategic advantages of nuclear energy. Our initiative will further expand the ability to provide reliable power in areas where building nuclear projects would traditionally be considered economically or technically impractical,” said Jon Ball, president of eVinci Technologies at Westinghouse.

Following the initial study, the companies proposed the Prodigy Microreactor Power Station, which can accommodate one or more Westinghouse eVinci microreactors. The plant is intended to be manufactured at a single location and transported by water to its destination, where it can be installed either directly on the coast or on land.

Uses of the nuclear microreactor

The eVinci nuclear microreactor has an output of 5MWe/14MWt, and Prodigy expects it to have a service life of 60 years. The reactor uses liquid sodium to transfer heat from the core and has few moving parts during operation. It can therefore generate power for more than eight years without refuelling.

“The eVinci microreactor’s compact design and simplified operating requirements make it ideal for integration into the Prodigy power station. Our technology enables the deployment of eVinci, accelerating the delivery of clean, reliable and affordable energy at commercial scale to remote regions,” said Mathias Trojer, president and CEO of Prodigy Clean Energy.

The two companies now plan to complete the design of the power station for the eVinci microreactor. They are also working on a nuclear oversight model for the plant’s manufacture and transport, as well as licensing procedures. The goal is to launch the first pilot project in Canada by 2030.