Google has made history by signing the first corporate deal to purchase nuclear power from small modular reactors (SMRs) to fuel its artificial intelligence operations, according to a statement on the company’s blog.
This agreement with Kairos Power outlines plans to commission the first Kairos Small Modular Reactor by 2030, with additional reactors expected by 2035. In total, Google aims to secure 500 MW of power from six to seven reactors—less than the output of large modern nuclear plants. The exact financial terms and plant locations in the U.S. remain undisclosed.
Tech Companies Turning to Nuclear Energy
Amid rising electricity demand driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, several tech companies have turned to nuclear energy this year. In March, Amazon acquired a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy. Microsoft followed suit by partnering with Constellation Energy to restore one unit of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, where the most serious U.S. nuclear accident occurred in 1979.
Goldman Sachs projects that electricity consumption by U.S. data centers will triple by 2030, requiring 47 GW of new generating capacity. While renewable sources like solar and wind are expected to contribute, many companies are also looking toward nuclear energy for stable power.
Challenges Ahead for Kairos Power
Kairos Power still needs approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local governments to proceed with construction, a process that may take years. The company has already received permission to build a demonstration reactor in Tennessee, notes NIX Solutions.
SMRs are designed to be more compact than traditional reactors, with components manufactured in factories instead of on-site, aiming to lower costs. However, critics argue that SMRs might not achieve the same economies of scale as larger plants. Additionally, they will likely generate long-lasting nuclear waste, posing challenges since the U.S. does not currently have a permanent disposal site.
We’ll keep you updated on further developments as Google and Kairos Power progress with this initiative.