SRC to study nuclear batteries with Westinghouse Electric Canada

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Westinghouse Electric Canada to advance the study of very Small Modular Reactors (vSMRs) in Saskatchewan.

Nuclear energy holds intriguing potential for a green future. Reactors large and small are capable of generating significant power for long periods of time. They have no impact on the climate, and the disposal of the small amounts of waste they create is becoming cheaper — and, in some cases, even reusable.

The safety record of nuclear is the best of any power source. Even wind and solar energy cost more lives, mostly due to accidents during construction.

“(Nuclear) really is very exciting,” said Mike Crabtree, president and CEO of SRC. “Nuclear utility-scale energy generation is going to be a core part of the renewables plan and the plan to net zero.”

Studies of utility-scale nuclear power are proceeding in partnership with SaskPower, but the MOU with Westinghouse is much more local, and relatively tiny.

“(vSMRs) are scaled so they will fit on low loaders,” Crabtree explained. “It basically would fit in a 40-foot sea can, which is quite incredible when you think about it.”

Westinghouse and the SRC will locate one of Westinghouse’s eVinci micro-reactors to Saskatchewan — hopefully sometime in 2028.

“We are proud to work with SRC to provide customized solutions to Saskatchewan’s clean energy needs with our eVinci micro-reactor technology,” said Edouard Saab, president of Westinghouse Electric Canada. “Building on decades of innovation, the eVinci micro-reactor brings carbon-free, transportable, safe, and scalable energy, while creating jobs in local communities and advancing Canada’s net zero goals.”

The eVinci is incredibly small by nuclear reactor standards, and incorporates cutting-edge tech to generate five megawatts (mW) of electricity, over 13 mW of high temperature heat, or operate in a combined electricity/heat mode.

It is essentially a rechargeable nuclear battery, Crabtree said. It will be built and fueled in the US, then transported to Saskatchewan. While in transit, the eVinci acts as a secure containment unit — the nuclear material is “cold,” due to the control rods being inserted.

Control rods are made from neutral chemical elements that interfere with reactivity and slow it to almost nothing. They are removed or inserted by degrees to manage power output.

Once the reactor reaches its site, it takes only 30 days to power up.

“And when you want to shut down the reactor, you ‘simply’ actuate the rods, you allow the reactor then to cool down over a period of time,” Crabtree explained. “Once the reactor reaches its cool transport temperature, you put it on a flatbed and it is transported back to its point of manufacture.

“And, in fact, that’s actually what happens at the refueling after eight to 10 years of operation.”

The reactor site is nothing more than a concrete plinth. The nuclear battery is passively cooled, and doesn’t need on-site maintenance.

Crabtree said there was no downplaying the amount of work that will go into safety, environmental, and regulatory processes over the next five years. That stage is going to be intensive.

However, the reactor is designed for remote northern communities, mining, and industrial sites.

“The reactor needs to be intrinsically safe in those environments,” he said. “And the design is very appropriate for these types of operations.”

The heat, power, or combination of heat and power that the reactor can generate has wide applicability. Producing hydrogen, desalinating drinking water, providing heat to a community during the winter, edge-of-grid power boosting, and more — SRC and Westinghouse are excited to explore the possibilities.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of SRC. It is Canada’s second-largest research and technology organization, with nearly 300 employees, $137 million in annual revenue, and 1,500 clients in 27 countries around the world.

“SRC has always been at the leading edge of technology and innovation and that has contributed to our longevity and success,” Crabtree said.