Westinghouse has partnered with Nordion and Public Service Enterprise Group Nuclear (PSEG) to launch the first commercial-scale production of Cobalt-60 in pressurized water reactors.
Cobalt-60 is a critical isotope used in the medical field and other industries. Isotope uses include cancer radiation therapy, sterilizing medical devices and food irradiation.
Westinghouse, which designed the pressurized water reactor (PWR) AP1000, said in its Tuesday press release that “the first commercial-scale implementation of Cobalt-60 production in PWRs is a transformative step toward a secure, diversified domestic Cobalt-60 supply.”
Within the joint initiative, the three companies have already signed long-term commercial agreements supporting deployment at the Salem Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey, operated by PSEG. Constellation Energy owns a minority stake in Salem as well.
Additionally, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing PSEG’s license amendment request to put in place Westinghouse Cobalt Burnable Absorber inserts at Salem Units 1 and 2. The companies are targeting to implement the technology in 2026, subject to NRC authorization and plant operating schedules, according to the release.
Nordion is a Sotera Health Company based in Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian company said it is the leading producer of Cobalt-60 with nearly 50% of its isotope being produced in CANDU reactors in Ontario.
PSEG Nuclear is a subsidiary of PSEG, an energy company headquartered in Newark, N.J.