Google has officially revealed the site for its initial small-scale nuclear reactor
In a significant move towards sustainable energy, tech giants are diving headfirst into nuclear power. Google, Oracle, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are among the industry leaders exploring nuclear technologies to power their data centers and contribute to America's AI race.
Don Moul, President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), announced that Google's financial support would aid in attracting and supporting companies like Google and help America win the AI race. This support is crucial in avoiding the high costs associated with the development of first-of-a-kind nuclear projects, thereby preventing these costs from being passed on to customers.
Google has signed a deal to purchase nuclear energy from Kairos Power, with the first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) offering up to 50MW of energy to Google's data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, starting from 2030. The first SMR will be located at Kairos Power's Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Notably, the output of the first SMR at Hermes 2 Plant will be boosted from 28MW to 50MW.
Oracle's Chief Technology Officer, Larry Ellison, has cited the move to AI inferencing as a key factor behind the nuclear push due to its energy-intensive nature. As a result, Oracle has secured building permits for three Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to power a 1GW data center.
Microsoft has also joined the nuclear energy trend, signing a power purchase agreement (PPE) with Constellation Energy to use 'unit 1' of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power data center operations. The deal is for seven Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with the first online by 2030 and the rest following by 2035.
However, the adoption of SMRs, intended to speed up the construction of nuclear plants compared to traditional reactors, may face challenges in rollout. This new technology might prove harder to implement than existing, tested sustainable sources.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is considering joining the nuclear energy trend. AWS aims to locate a data center next to a nuclear power station in Pennsylvania, but this has faced criticism from local residents and electricity providers over potential price rises.
Meta is also rumoured to be considering joining the nuclear energy trend in the tech industry. This trend among tech giants is referred to as "hyperscalers going nuclear."
Meanwhile, the collaboration between Google and Kairos Power aims to provide clean energy attributes to power Google's data centers in the region every hour of every day. The TVA will purchase electricity from Kairos' Hermes 2 plant beginning in 2030.
Microsoft is using AI to help get its nuclear projects approved in the US. The use of SMRs is a strategic move by tech giants to reduce their carbon footprint and meet the growing energy demands of their data centers, driven by the rise in AI.
As the tech industry continues to grow, the demand for energy-efficient and sustainable solutions is becoming increasingly important. The move towards nuclear energy by tech giants is a significant step towards meeting these demands and reducing carbon emissions.
