Tech giants bet on nuclear power

Tech titans are getting into nuclear power. This week, Google announced that it had made a power purchase agreement for electricity generated by a small modular nuclear reactor design that hasn't even received regulatory approval yet—and today, it's Amazon's turn. The company's Amazon Web Services group has announced three different investments, including one targeting a different startup that has its own design for small, modular nuclear reactors—one that has not yet received regulatory approval. Unlike Google's deal, which is a commitment to purchase power should the reactors ever be completed, Amazon will lay out some money upfront as part of the agreements. The sudden interest in small modular reactors among the tech community stems from the growing need for energy and a lack of good alternatives; data centers?require enormous amounts of energy, and the sudden popularity of AI threatens to raise that demand considerably. Read more below via Ars Technica.

Here’s why the tech giants are betting on nuclear. AI is supercharging our future, but at what cost? 1. AI demands massive energy ? AI systems require vast amounts of electricity to process data and run complex algorithms. 2. Renewable energy isn't enough ? Solar and wind power are not always reliable. Nuclear provides a steady and continuous energy supply. 3. Future-proofing their operations ? Investing in nuclear ensures these tech giants won't face energy shortages as AI usage grows. ?? Google’s approach: Google is partnering with nuclear startups to develop advanced reactors. These reactors promise to be safer and more efficient than traditional ones. ?? Microsoft’s strategy: Microsoft is looking into small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs are scalable and can be deployed quickly, making them ideal for meeting growing energy needs. ?? Amazon’s plan: Amazon is investing in both nuclear power and battery storage. This dual approach ensures they have a reliable energy supply and can store excess energy for future use.

Amazon and Google Go Nuclear Amazon and Google are going nuclear – literally. Both tech giants have announced deals to invest in and buy power from small modular nuclear reactors (SMR), signaling a shift toward nuclear energy to meet the growing power demands of AI data centers. Google’s deal with Kairos Power and Amazon’s investment in X-energy highlight the emerging trend of tech companies backing nuclear energy. This move could also fuel a surge in stocks tied to nuclear technology and reactor development, such as NuScale and Oklo, as they ride the wave of renewed interest in nuclear solutions. Sources in the comments. Like – Give me a virtual high-five! Comment – Share your thoughts! Share – Let’s spread the word! Save – For later! #AIInfrastructure #EnergyFuture #NuclearEnergy #TechInnovation

BIG NEWS! Google is tapping up Kairos Power for nuclear energy. The tech giant has just signed a landmark deal with the company designed to power its AI data centers with nuclear energy. This is a big move for Google, which has recently struggled to keep AI data center emissions down. #cleanenergy #AI #nuclearpower #datacentre #sustainability

Big Tech investments are a huge PR win for the nuclear industry. 1. Nuclear energy plant construction has stalled for decades. Big Tech has real money to put behind it. 2. Nuclear's biggest opponents are environmentalists. Big Tech has branded itself as "green" - which means it's giving brand cover to nuclear. 3. Big Tech's interest has generated lots of headlines & social content. 4. The team-up can probably favorably influence regulations. What say you, Jesse & other science geeks? Kelly, Shawn, & other GA folks - how do you see this playing out?

Finding the energy sources to power #DataCenters in order to fuel the #AI hype has been a challenge to #cloud providers. Especially as companies aim for renewable sources to fit their carbon-neutrality goals. Many have now been turning to #NuclearEnergy sources. This year, Amazon bought a data center in Pennsylvania that gets its electricity from a nearby nuclear power plant. And Microsoft announced in September that it had signed a contract with the owner of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant to reactivate it. If the US nuclear regulator gives its approval, the 835-megawatt reactor will go back online in 2028 and supply Microsoft's data centers with electricity for 20 years. The increasing reliance on nuclear power by tech giants like Microsoft raises serious concerns, and the article below asks why aren't these companies relying on more innovative solutions, such as small modular reactors, whose risks could be lower. However, reactivating decommissioned nuclear power plants could be cheaper and faster. This is not necessarily a scalable measure, though, as it is not always easy to reactivate these plants, depending on the level of maintainance of their equipment. https://lnkd.in/dTmmTxwE

Just as Kairos Power and Google announced their partnership, Amazon and X-energy UK announced that both tech giants are turning to advanced nuclear technologies to meet their growing energy needs while contributing to carbon-free goals. Amazon has taken a stake in X-energy, leading a $500 million funding round to accelerate the deployment of up to 5 GW of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the U.S. by 2039. The first project is set for Washington State, where Amazon, in partnership with Energy Northwest, will deploy four Xe-100 reactors, with the potential to expand to 12. These reactors will help power Amazon’s data centers and provide clean, reliable electricity for up to 770,000 homes. Similar to Google’s recent agreement with Kairos to deploy advanced reactors, Amazon’s move underscores the tech sector’s growing interest in nuclear energy as a dependable and scalable solution. Both companies are leveraging nuclear technology to meet rising electricity demands, particularly for energy-intensive operations like data centers and artificial intelligence (AI). In each case, nuclear energy offers a carbon-free and reliable power source that complements their sustainability strategies. Amazon's and X-energy’s partnership also mirrors TerraPower’s Natrium reactor development, backed by Bill Gates, where nuclear technology is central to the clean energy transition. Like TerraPower’s plans in Wyoming, X-energy’s Xe-100 reactors offer fast, scalable deployment with safety benefits from TRISO fuel. These collaborations showcase the increasing role of nuclear power in tech companies’ long-term sustainability plans, enabling them to achieve net-zero carbon goals while supporting their energy demands for data center and AI operations with reliable, round-the-clock energy. #NuclearEnergy #CleanEnergy #Amazon #Xenergy #TerraPower #Google #SMR #Sustainability #Innovation #letsgetnuclear

Data Centers require water for cooling. Nuclear Power Plants require water for cooling. Where is all that water coming from?

This year’s Nuclear Industry Council New Nuclear Capital Conference hosted at our offices in New York could not have been more timely in light of major announcements driving home the critical role of nuclear energy in meeting growing energy demand. The recent Google-Kairos Power and Amazon Web Services (AWS)-X-energy public announcements underscore this shift. Thank you to all the incredible minds at the conference for insightful discussions on how nuclear energy may shape the energy future. Dan R. Brouillette, Paul Dabbar, Todd Abrajano, Sydney McNiff Johnson, Andrew Paterson, Jeffrey Merrifield, Roland Backhaus, Paul Amico, Caleb H.S. Ward, Keyes Niemer, Ph.D., P.E., Chad Eaton, Ryan Nielson, Paul Murphy. #nuclearenergy #AI #baseloadpower #newnuclear