Westinghouse Electric Canada announced on 17 March an investment of CAD27.2 million ($21.5 million) from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to support funding for Westinghouse’s eVinci micro-reactor.
“As our government moves swiftly with our green economic recovery, we are laying the foundation for a better-prepared and more prosperous climate-oriented future,” stated François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
“Westinghouse’s innovative technology will help deliver cleaner energy sources across Canada, especially in remote communities. This investment will play a critical role in fighting climate change and build on Canada’s global leadership in SMRs, and securing jobs in Ontario’s energy sector.”
Westinghouse said the flexibility of a transportable eVinci reactor as a primary energy source, or in tandem with other sources such as renewables, will help to reduce Canada’s energy costs by limiting the need for permanent infrastructure.
“The eVinci micro-reactor technology enables many applications which will benefit Canadian industries and communities, especially those in need of carbon-free heat and power,” said David Durham, President, Westinghouse Energy Systems. “We appreciate the Government of Canada’s partnership and are proud to support a Pan-Canadian energy transition programme in support of net-zero emissions targets.”
Westinghouse said this funding will enable it to create and maintain many new permanent jobs in Canada while partnering with the country’s world-class nuclear supply chain and academic institutions.
Canada's SIF fund has previously made grants to two SMR projects: a CAD20 million investment for Terrestrial Energy to accelerate development of its Integral Molten Salt Reactor and CAD47.5 million to Moltex Energy to help develop its 300MW Stable Salt Reactor-Wasteburner (SSR-W) technology.
Westinghouse officials and Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne gathered to annouce the Canadian government's investment in eVinci (Photo: Business Wire)