Has firsthand look at development of potential low-cost power solution for rural Alaska areas.

A vast landscape dotted with rural communities far from any centralized electrical grid and little to no sunshine during the cold winter days when energy is needed most, Alaska offers some unique challenges when it comes to delivering affordable low-carbon power to residents and businesses.

"We have more microgrids than anywhere else in the country, perhaps, possibly, the world," said Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy. "A lot of isolated communities, sometimes hundreds and hundreds of miles apart from each other, and currently most of those communities are dependent on diesel generation."

Each year, these rural communities have thousands of gallons of diesel delivered by barge, plane, and in some instances, even snowmachines. Due to the high costs of diesel and its delivery, the residents and businesses in Alaska's most remote reaches pay up to 70 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity.

"That's really not a long-term solution for our people," Dunleavy said.

The Alaska governor believes micronuclear power plants may be a long-term and low-carbon solution for powering rural Alaska, which is why he was joined by State Sen. Click Bishop and Gwen Holdmann, director of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, to visit Westinghouse Electric Company's eVinci microreactor research and development facility in Pennsylvania.

"Microreactors in communities, where applicable, will go a long way to lowering energy costs, especially in remote places in rural Alaska," said Sen. Bishop.

Microgrid-scale batteries

eVinci microreactors are like microgrid-scale batteries with enough charge to last at least eight years before you have to change them out.

Each 5 MW eVinci unit can be delivered in four shipping containers that were purposefully designed to be easily and quickly delivered to remote locations such as Alaska rural communities and mines, and installed in buildings similar to those that house the diesel generators that are a staple for delivering electricity across the North.

Westinghouse estimates that electrical costs from its very first commercial eVinci microreactor will run about 25 cents per KWh. This is expected to drop to somewhere between US10 and 18 cents per kWh once increased production reduces the per-unit build costs.

Even at the estimated starting rate, this would be much lower than what many rural residents are currently paying. And eVinci reactors would eliminate the steady drone of generators common to Alaska communities, eliminate diesel emissions, and generate what could be considered essentially free byproduct heat that can be used to keep homes and businesses warm during the cold winter months.

"Alaska, we believe, is tailor-made for a technology like eVinci," said Eddie Saab, vice president of new plant market development for Westinghouse. "The key is eVinci's transportability, which allows it to benefit remote communities that are off the grid, and industries such as mining operations that rely on diesel fuel for heat and electricity, which can be expensive and difficult to transport year-round."

These units are delivered with enough fuel to deliver silent, zero-carbon electricity and heat for eight years running at full capacity. And much like batteries, the reactor units are simply swapped out for a recharged one when the specialized self-encapsulated fuel is depleted.

The used module will be transported off-site for refurbishment at Westinghouse facilities. Spent fuel is neither handled nor stored on site.

"The point is to make things simple," said Saab. "To efficiently deliver this energy resource, install it in about 30 days, and let it run."

Laying the Alaska groundwork

The first eVinci microreactor is to be piloted at the U.S. Air Force's Eielson Base just outside Fairbanks, Alaska.

"Microreactors and modular nuclear reactors are fast approaching market readiness, and with the planned project at Eielson AFB in 2027 Alaska is poised to be an early adopter of this emerging technology," said University of Alaska Fairbanks Vice Chancellor Gwen Holdmann.

The eVinci unit at Eielson will be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and will help establish the federal permitting of similar units in the U.S.

Westinghouse Electric Company

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy being shown a sample of the 12-foot heat pipes manufactured at the Westinghouse Waltz Mill research and development facility in Pennsylvania.

Last year, the Alaska legislature passed legislation introduced by Dunleavy to establish a state regulatory framework for permitting microreactors in Alaska. This legislation, Senate Bill 177, was signed into law by the governor in October 2022.

"Over the past four years, there have been legislative hearings on microreactors. With more to come," said Bishop. "There will be continued efforts by Alaska legislators to learn more about microreactors by touring sites such as the Westinghouse facility in Pennsylvania and Idaho National Laboratory."

Westinghouse, which has been actively meeting with Alaskans both in the state and with visits at its facilities, said engagement is important as eVinci moves through the development process to deployment in the 2027-2028 timeframe.

"We know this technology is the right solution, but it is vital to listen to stakeholders to learn about the situations they are facing and understand exactly how we can meet their needs," said Saab. "Cooperation and consultation is key to successful deployment."

Author Bio

Shane Lasley, Publisher

Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.

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