USC, Westinghouse partner to advance nuclear workforce development

Westinghouse Electric Company and the University of South Carolina (USC) are partnering to create a multidisciplinary nuclear workforce development program to support U.S. fleet deployment of AP1000® plants. The new program will be centered at the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing’s planned Nuclear Innovation Center.

Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy and Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy Alex Fitzsimmons, USC President Michael Amiridis, Westinghouse President of New Plant Delivery Luca Oriani, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri and Former Chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls Alex Molinaroli attended a memorandum of understanding signing for the agreement today at the Third Annual South Carolina Nuclear Summit in Columbia.

“President Trump’s historic executive orders have laid the foundation for a new era of American nuclear energy, and we must build the workforce capable of turning that vision into reality,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly. “This is why investments in workforce development like the partnership between Westinghouse and the University of South Carolina are so important. These collaborations will build the talent base needed to support new nuclear construction, strengthen our domestic supply chain, and ensure that American families have high-paying jobs for generations to come.”

“We look forward to collaborating with Westinghouse to develop workforce education opportunities for our students as we plan for our proposed Nuclear Innovation Center at the University of South Carolina,” USC President Michael Amiridis said. “This partnership between higher education and industry promises to strengthen South Carolina’s leading role in the future of nuclear energy for our state and nation.”

The partnership will explore opportunities to create a first-of-its-kind nuclear training center to develop and prepare all workforce disciplines for a large-scale national deployment of new nuclear power plants. Potential training capabilities being discussed include:

• State-of-the-art digital AP1000 simulators that can train plant operators and university students in a replica control room that simulates the operating conditions of a plant. The AP1000 advanced modular reactor is the only proven Generation III+ technology available today, delivering 1.115 gigawatts of electricity, which is enough to power 750,000 U.S. homes.
• Unique hands-on construction labs to provide craft, construction and maintenance training as well as to develop new and advanced technologies through digital work packages, wearables, AR/VR and AI-enabled execution.
• A multidisciplinary certificate program for mechanical, electrical, industrial and civil engineering students pursuing careers in the nuclear energy sector.

The Nuclear Innovation Center is a major new initiative for USC aimed at positioning South Carolina as a national leader in nuclear energy research, innovation, partnership and workforce development. The center will create a model for developing the skilled talent and technology infrastructure required by the nuclear energy industry and strengthen South Carolina’s ability to compete for nuclear and technology-driven economic development.

Westinghouse has maintained a significant presence in South Carolina for more than five decades. The company employs more than 2,200 people across the state, including at its Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility, one of the largest nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities of its kind. In addition to fuel fabrication, Westinghouse supports new plant deployment, engineering, information technology, and outage and maintenance services from locations across South Carolina, contributing to the state’s leadership in nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing.

“While South Carolina is already a strong nuclear state, this strategic partnership between USC and Westinghouse will position the state as a national leader,” said Luca Oriani, President of Westinghouse New Plant Delivery. “This collaboration will support high-paying jobs and economic growth across South Carolina while strengthening and further developing the workforce needed to deliver the next generation of nuclear power plants and meet the rising demand for electricity.”