Last year, Westinghouse, Radiant, and Ultra Safe Nuclear secured $3.9 billion in federal funding for the Front-End Engineering and Experiment Design (FEEED) process to prepare for reactor testing at NRIC-DOME. In September 2024, Westinghouse completed the FEEED process by submitting its Preliminary Safety Design Report, detailing the eVinci test reactor’s design, safety protocols, schedule, budget, and test plan.
The NRIC-DOME, a 1960s facility at Idaho National Laboratory originally built for the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II, is being upgraded for advanced reactor testing and will be ready by 2026. The eVinci, a heat pipe-cooled microreactor, produces up to 5 MWe with a 15 MWt core using TRISO fuel, designed to operate for over eight years without refueling. The 3 MWt test reactor will validate key features for the commercial, transportable eVinci microreactor.
Jon Ball, eVinci Technologies President at Westinghouse, said: “Becoming the first test reactor to receive approval of its PSDR demonstrates the maturity of our eVinci design and underscores the momentum we have in commercialising and deploying this technology.” The company is now developing the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis, the third of four DOE submissions required for siting.
Westinghouse is engaging with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for licensing. In December 2024, the NRC approved the eVinci’s control system, the first for a microreactor. In April 2025, the NRC approved the Principal Design Criteria Topical Report, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and simplifying licensing for customers.
The eVinci microreactor’s progress supports scalable, efficient energy solutions for various applications.
