Westinghouse and Prodigy are jointly developing a Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) equipped with an eVinci microreactor.
The TNPP, as defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is a movable nuclear power plant capable of producing electricity and heat, catering to demands in harsh and remote climates. This initiative includes the concept of Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs) that can be docked near energy demand locations, minimizing the need for permanent infrastructure.
The collaboration, ongoing since 2019, stems from a study funded by a multinational corporation in 2019-2020, focusing on identifying reliable clean energy sources. Prodigy, post-study, has standardized TNPP civil structures for deployment at various sites, allowing for the integration of single or multiple 5MWe eVinci microreactors. The TNPP is designed to deliver reliable electricity and heat to remote industrial sites, data centers, communities, defense installations, and islands.
The eVinci microreactor utilizes liquid sodium-filled heat pipes for heat transfer, eliminating the need for water in operation. Often termed a “nuclear battery,” it operates with few moving parts for over eight years without refueling, according to Westinghouse.
Prodigy’s President and CEO, Mathias Trojer, emphasized that the eVinci technology enables fleet deployment, expediting the delivery of clean, reliable, and affordable power at a commercial scale to remote regions.
Funding from Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund received in 2022 supports ongoing work. Future plans include finalizing TNPP design, developing a nuclear oversight model, and progressing licensing and site assessments, with the goal of implementing the first project in Canada by 2030.
The maritime industry could benefit from floating nuclear power sources, or SMRs, to recharge battery-powered vessels in areas lacking infrastructure. These compact nuclear power plants, transportable on barges, offer a self-contained and low-infrastructure solution for providing reliable, long-term power to ships in remote or off-grid locations, addressing challenges in electrifying shipping.
