ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th nuclear reactor simulator in the entire world is now housed in the Palmetto State.
“This is an exciting moment for S.C. State,” President Alexander Conyers said. “The NuScale Energy Exploration Center gives our students a front-row seat to the future of clean energy. It’s not every day you get to bring a virtual nuclear reactor into the classroom. That kind of access can spark curiosity, open career paths, and change lives.
On Wednesday, South Carolina State University launched the NuScale Energy Exploration Center, which is a simulated nuclear power plant control room. The simulated control room similar to the operation of an actual advanced nuclear power plant.
Officials said this will give students in the Nuclear Engineering program an “immersive, hands-on training in nuclear systems and plant operations.”
The center includes the following features:
A library of digital procedures and automations.A tiered notification system that informs operators of abnormal conditions.Integrated emergency procedures.Fully automated sequences for changing output and controlling equipment.
“This partnership brings world-class tools to our campus, supports our growing research mission as an R2 institution, and underscores the vital role HBCUs play in driving innovation across the country,” Conyers said. “It also strengthens our pipeline for workforce development with partners like the Battelle Savannah River Alliance, preparing our students to lead in one of the nation’s most critical industries.”
The center will allow users to assume the role of control room operators, according to the university.
South Carolina State University is the only historically Black university to have the simulator.
“It transforms how we prepare future engineers — moving beyond textbooks to immersive, industry-standard training,” said . Dr. Stanley Ihekweazu, dean of theCollege of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Transportation,. “This kind of access not only strengthens our nuclear engineering program but also empowers our students to lead in a field that is vital to our nation’s energy future.”
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