Tech giant Google has announced that it will start purchasing nuclear power from small modular reactor developer Kairos Power as energy demand for its data centers for AI surges across the tech space.
Data centers need reliable, round-the-clock power, and many companies are pledging to adopt low-emissions sources.
Terrell claims the deal will likely result in 500 MW of new carbon-free power for U.S. electricity grids. At the same time, he says it will help communities benefit from the clean and affordable nuclear power.
“This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably.”
SMRs are small, advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW per unit. At the moment, only four SMRs are in the advanced stages of construction in Argentina, China, and Russia.
Many more countries are conducting SMR research and development though, with the hope being they could create a smaller, more cost-effective source of nuclear power.
“The next generation of advanced nuclear reactors offers a new pathway to accelerate nuclear deployment thanks to their simplified design and robust, inherent safety,” Terrell said.
“The smaller size and modular design can reduce construction timelines, allow deployment in more places, and make the final project delivery more predictable.”
Further details of Google’s deal, such as the cost and location of the SMR’s eventual deployment, have yet to be disclosed. Kairos Power was founded in 2016 and has already started the construction of its Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Google joins fellow tech juggernauts Microsoft and Amazon in turning to nuclear power to cover the growing drain on power sources.
In March, Amazon Web Services, a subsidiary of Amazon, bought a 960-megawatt data center campus from Talen Energy for $650 million. The data center, Cumulus Data Assets, is directly powered by the adjacent nuclear power station, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
