Westinghouse’s new nuclear microreactor could power data centers
Westinghouse Electric
Westinghouse Electric has submitted its Preliminary Safety Design Report (PSDR) for the eVinci Microreactor to the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a major milestone in a process that began last October.
America largely abandoned nuclear energy after the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979, but it is making a comeback thanks to the astronomical energy (and cooling) requirements of today’s frontier AI models. A recent study by the Washington Post and The University of California, Davis, found that using ChatGPT to generate a single 100-word email can consume up to nearly a liter and a half of water and enough energy to power 14 LED light bulbs for an hour. And as AI models grow ever larger and more complex, their power demands are expected to increase in step, with AI data centers consuming multiple megawatts up to a full gigawatt of electricity.
With the submission of the PSDR, Westinghouse can now deploy the eVinci for testing at the NRIC’s Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility. The NRIC is tasked with developing four new experimental facilities and two large reactor test beds by 2028 where it will conduct “comprehensive technology demonstrations” before finalizing a pair of advanced nuclear technology experiments by 2030.
“The completion of the PSDR for the eVinci test reactor is an important step towards enabling a microreactor developer to perform a test in our DOME facility,” said Brad Tomer, acting director of NRIC. “As a national DOE program and part of INL, the nation’s nuclear energy research laboratory, NRIC is committed to working with private companies such as Westinghouse to perform testing and accelerate development of advanced nuclear technologies that will provide clean energy solutions for the U.S.”
The eVinci works “essentially as a battery,” according to Westinghouse. It uses very few moving parts, instead relying on “the first ever 12-foot nuclear-grade heat pipe” to transfer heat from the nuclear core. In addition to providing electrical power for remote sites and installations, the reactor can also generate the high temperature heat needed to produce hydrogen fuel. Each reactor unit is designed to operate 24/7 for eight years at a time. When a reactor expends all of its fuel, Westinghouse will swap it out wholesale for another sealed reactor.
Westinghouse is far from the only company pursuing nuclear energy solutions to power AI data centers. Oracle announced plans in September to use three small nuclear reactors to power its new 1-gigawatt AI data center, Amazon’s AWS recently purchased a 960-megawatt data center campus from Talen, and Microsoft is currently seeking to reopen the Unit 1 reactor at Three Mile Island itself to power its AI data centers.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/westinghouse-nuclear-reactor-ai-data-centers/
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum