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Saskatchewan Research Council teams up with Westinghouse on vSMRs

July 18, 2022 – The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) and Westinghouse Electric Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance very small modular reactors (vSMRs, a.k.a. micro-reactors) in Saskatchewan.

“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,” Edouard Saab, president, Westinghouse Electric Canada.

Westinghouse and SRC will jointly develop a project to locate an eVinci micro-reactor in the province for the development and testing of industrial, research, and energy use applications.

“For 38 years, SRC was the licensed owner and operator of a SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear reactor, and we look forward to building on that experience with Westinghouse,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for SRC. “The hands-on experience SRC gained can be applied to emerging nuclear technology, such as SMRs, as we consider how to best power our future.”

The eVinci micro-reactor and surrounding infrastructure is about half the size of a hockey rink, explains SRC. It is capable of producing 5 MW of electricity, over 13 MW of high-temperature heat, or operating in combined heat & power (CHP) mode.

“The advancement of nuclear power in our province will not only modernize our power grid, but result in billions of dollars in additional economic activity,” added Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskPower.