ABB & SimGenics Collaborate on Simulator-Based Training for Nuclear Sector in North America
August 26, 2025
ABB Has Signed a MoU with SimGenics to Explore How They Can Support the Greenfield Power Generation Industry
- ABB and SimGenics to develop simulation-based solutions for training, testing and verification of nuclear plant operations
- Agreement supports plant process model and simulation across conventional large plants, small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors
- Policies in both Canada and the US aim to enable the deployment of next-generation nuclear technology as part of a diversified energy mix
ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SimGenics, an advanced plant simulator company, to support the development and provision of engineering, training and distributed control system (DCS) simulators for the nuclear energy industry, primarily in North America. The collaboration comes at an important time, with both Canadian and US governments implementing policy frameworks to stimulate the deployment of nuclear energy to generate electricity.
Drawing on their collective expertise, the MoU will allow ABB and SimGenics to explore how they can support the greenfield power generation industry predominantly. This will include complete plant process model and simulation across conventional large nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMR) and advanced modular reactor (AMR) facilities. As well as being installed at offsite R&D centers for testing and validation purposes during the design stage, the simulators can also be used onsite at operational nuclear power plants as engineering and training systems.
In Canada the federal government views nuclear power as an important component of a diversified energy mix, having created the Canada SMR Action Plan to drive development, demonstration and deployment of SMRs.
“Against the backdrop of growing energy demand, nuclear power offers a reliable, low-carbon solution as part of the future energy mix,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB’s Energy Industries division. “Partnerships are instrumental for advancing modern, advanced nuclear technologies, and comprehensive simulation and training capabilities will be crucial to enable capacity growth in nuclear power as part of the future energy ecosystem.”
As part of the MoU and in order to optimize productivity, safety and operational efficiency, ABB will be able to supply automation, electrification and digitalization solutions to non-critical areas of nuclear facilities, as well as long-term service support through ABB Care to end users and reactor technology providers. SimGenics will be able to provide critical solutions, including engineering, training and DCS check-out simulators – to develop dynamic process models that mimic the behavior of various types of nuclear power plants. The ABB Ability System 800xA Simulator can then integrate these process models within control system infrastructures, to create a realistic simulator.
“Simulators have a crucial role to play in advancing nuclear energy,” said Francois Laubscher, Chief Operating Officer of SimGenics. “We look forward to collaborating with ABB to harness its automation, electrification and digital expertise to support the safe and productive operations that are required within the nuclear and power generation industries.”
Engineering and training simulators serve as virtual environments where solutions can be tested and refined in safe and developmental scenarios, enabling the nuclear energy workforce to develop operational skillsets using collaborative technology. Simulators can help reduce risk, prevent equipment failure and unplanned plant shutdowns and identify potential operational issues early.
