Westinghouse Electric Company has been selected for funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy to continue development of PowerBlock, an advanced nuclear fuel technology designed to improve fuel performance and plant operating flexibility.
The award is being made through ARPA-E’s High-performance Optimized Recycled Nuclear Isotopes for Gen IV reactors program, known as HORNIG. Westinghouse plans to use the support to advance PowerBlock’s design and manufacturing approach and generate additional technical data for future evaluation and deployment opportunities.
PowerBlock is intended to move beyond conventional nuclear fuel assembly design by combining new fuel architectures with advanced manufacturing techniques. Westinghouse said the technology is targeting 24-month fuel cycles at thermal power levels above 4,200 megawatts.
Longer fuel cycles and higher performance could provide nuclear operators with more flexibility as utilities seek ways to increase electricity output, improve plant economics, and extend the usefulness of existing nuclear infrastructure. The development effort also comes as electricity demand rises from manufacturing expansion, data centers, electrification, and broader economic growth.
Westinghouse will draw on its existing nuclear fuel manufacturing and engineering capabilities as it develops the technology. The company designs and deploys reactors, manufactures nuclear fuel, supports operating plants, and develops new reactor and fuel technologies.
Westinghouse said its technology is used across a significant portion of the global nuclear fleet. The company states that Westinghouse technology powers 57% of the world’s nuclear power plants, while it maintains nearly two-thirds of the global fleet and fuels about 40% of that fleet.
The PowerBlock project adds to a broader industry effort to improve the economics and flexibility of nuclear generation through new reactor designs, fuels, manufacturing methods, and operating models. The ARPA-E support will allow Westinghouse to continue technical development as it evaluates a potential path toward commercial deployment.
KEY QUOTES:
“As utilities look for new ways to maximize output, extend fuel performance and improve plant economics, innovation in fuel technology has never been more important. PowerBlock represents a bold new approach to nuclear fuel design, and Westinghouse is well-positioned to utilize our deep expertise in nuclear fuel technology and manufacturing to further advance fuel innovation.”
Ben Solich, President Of Nuclear Fuel At Westinghouse
