US firm’s microreactors to power Canada’s first 50 MW-class transportable nuclear plant

A coastal community in eastern Canada could soon host one of the world’s first transportable nuclear power stations. BWX Technologies confirmed recently that its microreactor design has been chosen for a pilot installation in Belledune, New Brunswick. The project is led by Prodigy Clean Energy in direct partnership with the Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations. The plant will be built on the First Nations’ traditional territory and operated under Indigenous ownership. If approved, the facility could supply clean electricity to the local grid by the early 2030s. Remote northern towns and heavy industrial sites have traditionally relied on diesel generators for heat and power. Hauling fossil fuels into isolated regions is both costly and emissions-heavy. Prodigy aims to replace that model with a Transportable Nuclear Power Plant, or TNPP. Instead of pouring concrete for years at a remote location, engineers construct the reactor inside a factory. The fully assembled modular plant will be transported directly to the destination. Once delivered, on-site installation and fuel commissioning take around 18 months—a fraction of typical nuclear construction timelines. To meet the real-world demand The Belledune facility is designed for a capacity of up to 50 megawatts of electricity. It will rely on two units of the BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor, known as BANR. “The BWXT team is designing BANR to meet a variety of real-world heat and electricity demands that currently cannot be met without the use of carbon-emitting sources with complex fuel logistics,” said John MacQuarrie, BWXT president of Commercial Operations. “By joining forces with Prodigy and integrating BANR with Prodigy’s transportable platform design, we are truly expanding BWXT’s horizons for future customers while reinforcing Canada’s role at the forefront of innovative, deployable advanced nuclear energy solutions.” Each BANR unit is a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor producing 22 megawatts of electricity and 75 megawatts of thermal energy. The system uses high-assay low-enriched uranium packaged into ceramic TRISO fuel particles. These microscopic fuel kernels retain radioactive material even under extreme temperatures. The design relies on passive safety systems, using natural convection and radiative heat transfer—rather than powered mechanical pumps—to dissipate decay heat during an outage. New Brunswick’s provincial government has already signed a Letter of Intent to purchase power from the plant. A working testbed Prodigy and BWXT view Belledune as a working testbed. Success in New Brunswick could open commercial doors across Canada’s Arctic and international markets. “BWXT’s BANR is a best-in-class advanced nuclear technology,” concluded Mathias Trojer, chief executive of Prodigy Clean Energy. He noted that the pilot offers a realistic route toward deploying the G7’s first commercial fleet of transportable reactors. Manufacturing will draw heavily on Ontario’s nuclear supply chain. BWXT Canada and its subsidiary, Kinectrics, plan to build the reactor components using teams trained during recent commercial reactor refurbishments. Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce welcomed the partnership, arguing that investments in modular reactors will support domestic jobs and cement Canada’s standing in advanced nuclear engineering. Both companies are now drafting final agreements covering licensing, supply chains, and private capital. Future variations of the platform could serve civilian industry, mining projects, and defense installations. The Canadian deal caps an active month for BWXT. In September, the US National Nuclear Security Administration tapped the company to design a modular lithium manufacturing plant at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee. That facility produces critical components needed to maintain the American nuclear weapons stockpile. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.An active and versatile journalist and news editor. He has covered regular and breaking news for several leading publications and news media, including The Hindu, Economic Times, Tomorrow Makers, and many more. Aman holds expertise in politics, travel, and tech news, especially in AI, advanced algorithms, and blockchain, with a strong curiosity about all things that fall under science and tech.