The Westinghouse company recently convened a meeting in Lancashire, England. The event, which took place this week, served as a platform for suppliers and Westinghouse representatives to deliberate on the company's prospective projects within the United Kingdom.
Westinghouse has been instrumental in the development of the gigawatt scale AP100 reactor and the AP300 small modular reactor (SMR). According to a news release issued on Feb. 9, it was revealed that the AP300 is progressing through the technology selection process of the Great British Nuclear program.
Rita Baranwal, senior vice president for energy systems at Westinghouse, said: "Westinghouse sees tremendous opportunity for our local supplier partners in the U.K. as we advance these vital projects. We have a long history working side-by-side with the British nuclear industry and that legacy will continue for decades to come. With the Roadmap also committing to a new Gigawatt project and U.K. fuel and fuel services capability, we felt that now was the perfect moment to both help the supply chain understand the breadth and scale of opportunity and our requirements to ensure delivery with sustainable social value."
In October 2023, Great British Nuclear selected Westinghouse's AP300 SMR to progress through its technology selection process. A news release from that period stated that this particular SMR was launched in May of that year along with components and engineering from AP100's supply chain. This strategic move allows for an efficient streamlining of licensing processes. It was also suggested in this October 2023 news release that we could expect to see the first operating unit sometime in the 2030s.
The Westinghouse AP300 SMR stands out due to its smaller size and modular construction which enhances safety during building processes. The unit features advanced safety measures and reliability, including robust containment design and multiple layers designed to mitigate damages from accidents. It is engineered to operate independently, without the need for backup power or pumps, or intervention from an operator. Westinghouse regards this unit as the backbone of a community clean energy system and aims to achieve performance that exceeds an 80-year life cycle with this system.
Westinghouse's initiatives have garnered support from various entities including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. According to the Feb. 9 news release, opening remarks were provided by representatives from the Nuclear Industry Association, Lancashire County Council, Net Zero, and the Department of Energy Security.