McMaster University and Westinghouse Electric Company announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Master Services Agreement (MSA) supporting research and development (R&D) of the eVinci® microreactor.

Under the agreements, McMaster and Westinghouse will continue collaborating on significant R&D scopes to move the eVinci technology towards commercialization. In addition, the MSA will allow for an extended research collaboration that includes material irradiation and examination studies.

“We’re proud to partner with Westinghouse and contribute our research expertise and world-class suite of nuclear facilities in support of their eVinci microreactor program” says Andy Knights, McMaster’s vice-president, Research (acting).

“As Canada’s Nuclear University, McMaster is committed to working alongside our industry partners to advance materials and energy solutions for a cleaner world.”

McMaster is currently expanding its reactor testing capabilities through the development of a high-temperature irradiated test rig, which will enable Westinghouse to gather key testing data to support design confirmation and subsequent licensing approval of the eVinci microreactor.

“McMaster University is a strong Canadian research partner, offering years of valuable experience and insights from operating its research reactor that can be applied to our microreactor technology,” said Jon Ball, president of Westinghouse eVinci Technologies.

“By broadening our collaboration and leveraging McMaster’s unique capabilities we can further accelerate the commercialization of our eVinci microreactor.”

This technical collaboration builds on a partnership started in 2022. McMaster has already completed a material properties literature review along with corresponding material handbooks to inform engineering design and determine future testing needs.

These microreactor research agreements support McMaster’s vision for a net-zero campus and research into the possible applications of renewable heat and power for remote deployments.

The eVinci microreactor builds on decades of Westinghouse innovation to bring carbon-free, safe and scalable energy wherever it is needed for a variety of applications, including providing reliable electricity and heating for data centres, the oil and gas industry, mining operations, remote communities, universities, industrial centres and defence facilities, and soon the lunar surface.

The resilient eVinci microreactor has very few moving parts, working essentially as a battery, providing the versatility for power systems ranging from several kilowatts to 5 megawatts of electricity, delivered 24 hours a day, seven days a week for eight-plus years without refuelling. The technology is factory-built and assembled before it is shipped in a container