Exclusive: Penn State bets on tiny nuclear tech
Penn State is launching a new research facility anchored by one of the world's smallest nuclear reactors.
Why it matters: Westinghouse's eVinci microreactor reflects a broad shift toward smaller nuclear technology that could power data centers, remote communities and even future Moon and Mars bases.
The carbon-free energy source may also help meet growing energy demands.
Driving the news: Penn State filed a letter of intent last week with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to develop a new nuclear research hub at its University Park campus that includes deployment of the microreactor — a small nuclear reactor that can generate electricity and heat — to advance nuclear research.
At least one 75,000-square-foot facility with labs, classrooms and a visitor center will drive the school to "find new ways of harnessing nuclear energy while providing students and researchers with unprecedented opportunities," said Jon Ball, president of eVinci technologies at Westinghouse.
Catch up quick: Penn State and Cranberry-based Westinghouse announced the partnership in 2022, marking the company's first university collaboration. If approved, the school will be one of the earliest adopters of the tech.
Zoom in: The design operates like a "nuclear battery," providing power for more than eight years without refueling — reducing maintenance needs, according to the company, and allowing it to essentially operate autonomously without someone on-site. Typical nuclear power plants refuel every one to two years.
The microreactor uses heat pipe technology to generate 5 megawatts of electricity with no water.
The big picture: Traditional large-scale nuclear power plants like Beaver Valley Power Station in Shippingport supply baseload power that some scientists say is critical to the renewable energy transition. But the industry has grappled with competition from cheaper natural gas and steep repair costs for aging facilities. New full-scale reactors are also more expensive and time-consuming to build.
Smaller, modular reactors and microreactors like the eVinci are one way the industry is working to modernize nuclear energy. The eVinci is designed to take fewer than 30 days to install on-site, and the reactor itself is only about 30 feet long.
These smaller reactors can't meet the energy needs of their weightier counterparts, but they can be built faster and can potentially power a small community, military base, college campus or data center.
By the numbers: Nuclear power generates nearly 20% of America's electricity.
Pennsylvania accounts for one-tenth of the nation's nuclear energy generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
What they're saying: "We believe this technology has the potential to change how we think of and use nuclear energy," said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. He noted that Penn State is already home to the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor, the nation's longest continuously operating university research reactor.
What's next: The plan still faces regulatory hurdles. Penn State will complete a feasibility study while working with the NRC to find a site for the facility. The reactor is expected to come online in 2028-29.
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