Data centers powered by nuclear micro-reactors

Google announced today that it has partnered with a nuclear startup called Kairos Power to build seven small nuclear reactors. These reactors will provide electricity to Google's data centers, helping meet the growing energy demands caused by AI and other data operations. The deal is expected to add around 500 megawatts of clean, carbon-free power, which is important as tech companies seek more sustainable energy solutions.

Google has announced that its new nuclear power plants, developed in partnership with Kairos Power, are expected to be operational by the end of the decade. It's uncertain whether these reactors will supply power directly to Google's facilities ("behind the meter") or if they will contribute energy to the grid, with Google claiming the carbon-free energy through its deal. By turning to nuclear power, Google follows other tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon. Microsoft recently arranged to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island, and Amazon plans to connect a data center to a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. These moves reflect the increasing energy demands of major tech companies.

Kairos Power, aiming to bring its nuclear power plants online by 2030, is pushing to meet an ambitious timeline. This represents a slight acceleration from its previous goal of the "early 2030s." However, Kairos is in a competitive race with fusion startups, many of which are targeting commercial power plants by 2035. Unlike traditional nuclear plants, which are large-scale and take years to construct, Kairos is focusing on small-modular reactors (SMRs). These SMRs are designed to be more affordable and quicker to build.

Most traditional nuclear plants, like the recently commissioned Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Georgia, take around a decade to complete and often face significant delays and cost overruns. For example, these reactors were commissioned in 2023 and 2024, but they were seven years behind schedule and $17 billion over budget. Kairos hopes to overcome these challenges with its more compact, efficient SMR approach.

SMR (small-modular reactor) startups are revolutionizing nuclear power by focusing on faster and more cost-effective construction. They aim to use mass production methods to reduce the costs and time needed to build nuclear plants. Kairos Power is taking this innovation further by using molten salts—specifically lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride—to cool its reactors instead of traditional water-based cooling systems. This approach enhances safety and efficiency.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved Kairos' plan to build a 35-megawatt demonstration reactor, a significant milestone that other SMR startups, like Oklo, have not yet achieved. This approval puts Kairos ahead in the race to bring new nuclear technology to market.

Despite gaining regulatory approval, Kairos Power faces several significant challenges. One major hurdle is the lack of any commercial small-modular reactors (SMRs) currently in operation, leaving the economic feasibility of these reactors unproven. Additionally, Kairos' use of molten salt as a coolant is a departure from the traditional water-cooled reactors, raising concerns about the implementation of this newer, untested technology.

Beyond technical issues, public opinion poses another obstacle. While 56% of Americans support nuclear power according to Pew Research, 44% remain opposed. This opposition may increase once specific reactor locations are chosen, as the survey only asked about general support for nuclear energy—not about having reactors in local communities. Furthermore, while nuclear power is gaining more support, renewable energy sources like wind and solar remain far more popular, and these technologies are already available at a much lower cost compared to new nuclear plants. This makes nuclear a tougher sell when cheaper and more established alternatives are on the market.

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