Google has entered into a partnership to utilize small nuclear reactors for generating the substantial energy required to power its artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. According to the company, the agreement with Kairos Power will see the first reactor operational this decade, with additional reactors expected to come online by 2035. However, the companies did not disclose any specifics regarding the deal’s value or the locations of the plants.
Technology firms are increasingly looking to nuclear energy sources to meet the electricity demands of the extensive data centers that support AI. “The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies,” stated Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google. “This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone.”
Kairos executive Jeff Olson remarked that the deal with Google “is important to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy by demonstrating the technical and market viability of a solution critical to decarbonizing power grids.” Before proceeding, the plans must receive approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local agencies.
Last year, US regulators granted California-based Kairos Power its first permit in 50 years to construct a new type of nuclear reactor. In July, the company began building a demonstration reactor in Tennessee. The startup focuses on developing smaller reactors that use molten fluoride salt as a coolant, as opposed to water, which is used in traditional nuclear facilities.
Nuclear power, which is nearly carbon-free and provides continuous electricity, has become increasingly appealing to the tech industry as it strives to reduce emissions while increasing energy consumption. Goldman Sachs, a Wall Street banking giant, projects that global energy consumption by data centers will more than double by the end of the decade.
John Moore, Industry Editor for the TechTarget website, explained to the BBC, “AI data centers need large amounts of electricity to both power them and keep equipment cool. These data centers are equipped with specialized hardware that require lots of power and generate lots of heat.”
At last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, the US joined a coalition of countries aiming to triple their nuclear energy capacity by 2050 as part of the effort to transition away from fossil fuels. However, critics argue that nuclear power carries risks and produces long-lasting radioactive waste.
Last month, Microsoft announced plans to restart operations at the Three Mile Island energy plant, the site of the worst nuclear accident in the US in 1979. In March, Amazon revealed its intention to acquire a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania. “Google’s partnership with Kairos Power signals another major step in tech’s embrace of nuclear energy,” noted Somnath Kansabanik from research firm Rystad Energy.
