Completing the design phase, company prepares microreactor for experimentation for real-world deployment and applications.

In a significant step toward advancing clean energy technology, Westinghouse Electric Company has completed the front-end engineering and design phase for its eVinci microreactor, bringing this compact nuclear system closer to real-world testing at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), with the potential to begin as early as 2026.

With a legacy spanning over 130 years, Westinghouse has been at the forefront of energy innovation, from pioneering alternating current technology to building the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor, and now a future of modular, micro nuclear reactors and the advanced fuels that power them, which may once again reshape the energy landscape.

Today, nearly half of the world's nuclear reactors are powered by Westinghouse technology, and the company continues to lead advancements in nuclear energy with innovations like the AP1000 and eVinci microreactors.

Alongside these reactor innovations, Westinghouse has also made strides in advanced nuclear fuel, such as the recent development of its LEU+ fuel pellets, a critical step in enhancing reactor efficiency and safety, while also contributing to U.S. energy security and independence.

Westinghouse Electric Company

Pipes will transfer heat out of the eVinci microreactor's core, enabling air cooling without the need for water or pressurized gas.

Now, after nearly a decade of development, Westinghouse has finalized the design for its eVinci microreactor. As one of three designs slated for potential testing at INL in 2026, the eVinci microreactor recently completed the front-end engineering and experiment design (FEEED) process, a critical step toward its demonstration and eventual deployment.

"Completing the FEEED process marks 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 NRIC (National Reactor Innovation Center), INL, and the Department of Energy is instrumental to our efforts."

With the completion of the FEEED stage, Westinghouse has established the feasibility and safety of the eVinci microreactor, moving it closer to testing at INL's Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility, where its operational capabilities will be fully assessed under real-world conditions.

If successfully validated for commercial use, the eVinci microreactor could unlock a new era of energy independence for remote operations.

Capable of producing up to 5 megawatts of electricity on a site as small as two acres, the reactor is designed for flexibility and mobility. Entirely self-contained, the eVinci can be delivered in four shipping containers, installed in just 30 days, and provides continuous power for up to eight years without the need for refueling.

Westinghouse Electric Company

In 2023, Westinghouse reached an agreement with the Saskatchewan government to install Canada's first eVinci microreactor in the province, aimed at providing zero-carbon energy to remote communities and industrial operations.

This compact design makes the microreactor ideal for a variety of applications, from powering mining operations in isolated regions to supplying energy for off-grid communities and even data centers, offering a clean and efficient alternative to traditional energy sources like diesel generators.

The DOME facility at INL, operated by the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), is designed to safely test and validate advanced nuclear technologies like the eVinci microreactor.

Providing a controlled environment for nuclear experiments, DOME is essential in advancing the development of innovative reactor designs from companies like Westinghouse, Radiant, and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation – the latter two of which are also progressing their own microreactor technologies under DOE-backed initiatives.

Although the FEEED phase has been completed, Westinghouse will continue collaborating with NRIC to finalize the design and planning for the eVinci experiment, ensuring the reactor is prepared for the next stages of testing at the DOME facility, including securing long-lead procurement items in anticipation of its potential installation.