CORE POWER and Westinghouse join forces to develop floating nuclear power plant

American nuclear reactor designer and vendor Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a cooperative agreement with UK-based maritime nuclear innovation company CORE POWER to design and develop a floating nuclear power plant (FNPP).

Under the agreement, the companies will work towards advancing the design of the FNPP using the eVinci microreactor and its heat pipe technology which is expected to improve reliability while transferring heat from the nuclear core to a power conversion system, eliminating the need for water cooling and the associated recirculation systems.

Floating nuclear power plants are said to be “a game-changing approach” to deploying nuclear energy to islands, ports, coastal communities, and the maritime industry as they can be centrally manufactured and easily transported to operation sites, combining nuclear technology with shipyard efficiency.

According to Westinghouse, the eVinci microreactor, which will be used in the plant design has a few moving parts, working essentially as a battery, providing versatility for power systems ranging from several kilowatts to 5 megawatts of electricity.

It requires minimal maintenance and can operate for eight years at full power before refueling. It can also produce high-temperature heat suitable for industrial applications, including alternative fuel production such as hydrogen, and has the flexibility to balance renewable output.

In addition to advancing the floating nuclear power plant design, the companies plan to collaborate on developing a regulatory approach to licensing the plant systems.

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

Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER, added: “There’s no net-zero without nuclear. A long series of identical turnkey power plants using multiple installations of the Westinghouse eVinci microreactor delivered by sea, creates a real 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 unique partnership with Westinghouse is a game changer for how customers buy nuclear energy.”

Both Westinghouse and CORE POWER are inaugural members of the recently launched Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO), a global group of companies with a common interest in developing nuclear energy solutions for the maritime sector.

NEMO aims to assist nuclear and maritime regulators in the development of appropriate standards and rules for the deployment, operation and decommissioning of floating nuclear power.