Penn State and Westinghouse Electric Company are partnering to create a new nuclear research facility at University Park.
The school submitted a letter of intent to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Feb. 28, 2025 to install an eVinci™ microreactor in the new facility.
This project continues a three year working relationship between Westinghouse and Penn State called FRONTIER — Forging a Renaissance of Nuclear Through Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Research.
The new microreactor would serve as a sustainable energy source to research facilities and buildings across campus. According to Westinghouse, the reactor would provide “consistent power for over eight years without refueling.”
Research allowed by the power source would develop workforce opportunities in “engineering, construction, AI, operations, project management, licensing, safety, security, supply chain and many more,” Tonya L. Peeples, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering at Penn State, said.
Penn State will continue the application process with the NRC to determine an appropriate location for the facility.
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