B&W’s mPower reactor is being designed in Central Virginia. The IST facility will include a scaled prototype of the B&W mPower reactor that will undergo testing. All of the technical features of the B&W mPower integral reactor are included in the IST, although the source of energy is electric rather than nuclear.
This three-year initiative will collect data to verify the reactor design and safety performance, supporting B&W’s licensing activities with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
B&W selected the CAER for the IST test facility after an evaluation of various sites. One of the key factors in the decision was a $2.4m grant provided by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (TICRC), the company said.
Chris Mowry, president of B&W Nuclear Energy, said: “B&W is very pleased to have the support of the Virginia Tobacco Commission in locating our IST facility in Bedford County. This facility will play an important role as we move forward with testing and licensing of B&W mPower reactors, while also reaffirming the region as a hub for nuclear technology.”
B&W and Bechtel Power recently formed a formal alliance, called Generation mPower, to design, license and deploy B&W mPower nuclear power plants. B&W anticipates the IST facility will be operational in 2011.
