Westinghouse Unveils New Nuclear Engineering Hub in Kitchener

Westinghouse has inaugurated a cutting-edge engineering hub in Kitchener, reminiscent of Silicon Valley. The facility, spanning 1,200 square meters on Sportsworld Crossing Drive, will house approximately 50 engineers dedicated to shaping the future of nuclear reactors.

Among the exciting projects at this hub are the eVinci microreactors, eagerly anticipated for their potential impact on rural and Indigenous communities. Westinghouse plans to hire an additional 100 engineers by next year, with 90% of them being recent graduates.

Kitchener’s strategic location near post-secondary institutions, including the University of Waterloo (Canada’s largest engineering school), played a pivotal role in Westinghouse’s decision to establish its fifth engineering hub here. According to Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse CEO, the company prioritizes nurturing talent with the right mindset and skills for nuclear industry growth.

The Kitchener hub stands out as Westinghouse’s sole global engineering center, serving nuclear projects across Europe, Asia, and South America. In contrast, the other hubs in Spain, Italy, and the United States focus exclusively on domestic projects.

Fragman highlighted Kitchener’s proximity to Ontario-based nuclear plants, such as those in Bruce and Darlington overseen by Ontario Power Generation (OPG). A 2023 memorandum of understanding between Westinghouse and OPG positions Westinghouse as a potential partner for future nuclear endeavors in the province.

The hub’s development could create up to 8,000 jobs, primarily tied to Westinghouse’s AP1000 plants in Ontario. These large reactors would contribute approximately 55 gigawatts of dispatchable electricity.

Additionally, the facility is advancing microreactor technology. The eVinci microreactors, producing about 10% of the electricity generated by large AP1000 reactors, offer a modular solution for power generation in rural areas with unreliable or costly energy sources.

“We’ve already secured an agreement for the first machine in Saskatchewan,” said Fragman. “This marks not only Canada’s first small reactor deployment but also a milestone for the Western world.”