The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will fund Westinghouse Electric Company with $5 million for new nuclear reactor technology development, the nuclear company announced on Thursday.
The funding, which will be given through DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) will be used to develop a next-generation, very small modular reactor for decentralized generation markets.
'DOE funding for these projects is essential to developing game-changing, next-generation technologies to generate environmentally sound energy that also addresses shifting global market needs,' Ken Canavan, Westinghouse's chief technology officer was quoted as saying.
The small size of the eVinci generator, under 15 megawatts-electric, allows for easier transportation and rapid, on-site installation in contrast to large, centralized stations.
The micro reactor is designed to run for up to 10 years, eliminating the need for frequent refueling.
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr