Il nuclear of the future speaks American and English. It was born from an agreement between Westinghouse Electric Co. (USA) e CORE POWER (UK) for the use of the revolutionary modular microreactor eVinci (I told you about it here) in floating power plants. Compact, powerful and safe, eVinci promises to change the way we produce energy, opening the doors to a more flexible and decentralized supply.
But how does this technology work? And what advantages does it offer compared to traditional power plants?
EVinci, high efficiency miniaturized reactor
eVinci is a nuclear microreactor developed by Westinghouse as big as a shipping container, which can be easily transported wherever energy is needed. But don’t let its size fool you: eVinci can generate up to 5 megawatts of power, enough to power thousands of homes.
The real strength of eVinci lies in its efficiency. Thanks to an advanced design and the use of proprietary heat transfer technologies, this microreactor can operate continuously for 8 years without refueling. An unprecedented autonomy that promises to drastically reduce operating and maintenance costs.
“There is no net zero without nuclear,” he explained. Mikal Boe, CEO of CORE POWER in a Press release . “A long line of identical turnkey power plants using multiple installations of Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor delivered by sea creates a real opportunity to scale nuclear as the perfect solution to meet rapidly growing demand for clean, flexible and reliable electricity delivered on time and on budget.”
Offshore Nuclear Power Plants: A New Energy Horizon
The agreement between Westinghouse e CORE POWER aims to take eVinci where no nuclear reactor (except for military purposes) has ever gone before: in the open sea. The idea is to install these microreactors on floating platforms, creating real offshore nuclear power plants. A prospect that opens up new scenarios for the energy supply of islands, coastal areas and remote industrial sites.
For CORE POWER, floating nuclear power plants will be crucial to achieving the objectives of zero emissions. Thanks to their flexibility, these plants can be quickly deployed wherever they are needed, providing clean and reliable energy to support renewables.
Safety and reliability first
Of course, when it comes to nuclear, safety is always the first concern. But Westinghouse e CORE POWER ensure that eVinci represents a new standard in terms of reliability and risk containment.
First of all, the fact that the stations are floats and located offshore protects them from catastrophic events such as earthquakes and tsunamis. In case of emergency, the reactor can also be quickly disconnected and transported to a safe place for repairs.
But the real key to eVinci’s safety lies in its intrinsically safe design. The reactor uses a passive cooling system that requires no external intervention, minimizing the risk of failures and accidents. Furthermore, the fuel used is less enriched than that of traditional power plants, making a criticality event virtually impossible.
EVinci in the open sea, a step towards the future of energy?
Westinghouse e CORE POWER are taking a major step toward a cleaner, more flexible and affordable energy future. With eVinci, nuclear becomes portable and adaptable to the needs of a rapidly changing world.
Of course, the road to widespread diffusion of floating nuclear power plants is still long. Investments, ad hoc regulations and a great deal of public awareness will be needed. But the potential is enormous and the premises are encouraging.
Not surprisingly, other players are already moving in this direction. The American Seaborg, for example, is working on its own fleet of offshore reactors. A sign that the nuclear floating is no longer just a visionary idea, but a concrete prospect for our energy future.
In a world still heavily dependent on fossil fuels (eliminating only coal it would already be a feat), the agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom on eVinci represents a breath of fresh air, a timid but courageous step towards a new energy horizon. It is not a panacea, not a wave of a magic wand that will solve every problem. But it is a start, a seed planted in the right direction. Because if there is one thing that the challenge of climate change teaches us, it is that no solution should be discarded a priori, especially when it promises to combine efficiency, safety and flexibility.
