Google to use small nuclear reactors for powering AI

Google has partnered with Kairos Power to explore using small nuclear reactors to power its artificial intelligence (AI) operations, marking a major development in how the tech industry is addressing the increasing energy demands of AI. This agreement represents a shift towards sustainable energy solutions as AI technologies continue to grow rapidly.

The partnership aims to have Kairos Power’s first small modular reactor (SMR) operational by 2030, with plans to bring additional reactors online through 2035. Together, these reactors are expected to produce up to 500 megawatts of power, offering a stable and carbon-free energy source for Google’s data centers. This move is part of Google’s broader efforts to support its clean energy goals and maintain the growth of its AI operations.

 

As part of our commitment to clean energy, we’re signing the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors to be developed by @KairosPower. Learn more → https://t.co/K9nv7J9L4Q pic.twitter.com/GNuLs1dNA5

— Google (@Google) October 14, 2024

 

Google highlighted thebenefits of advanced nuclear technology in a statement, noting that the new generation of reactors provides a way to speed up nuclear energy deployment due to their simplified design and improved safety features. A senior director of energy and climate at Google further emphasized the importance of nuclear power in enabling clean growth, stating, “The grid needs these kinds of clean, reliable sources of energy that can support the build-out of these technologies.”

This collaboration is part of a broader trend in the tech industry. Other major companies, such as Microsoft and Amazon, are also exploring nuclear energy solutions. Microsoft recently announced plans to use power from the Three Mile Island nuclear facility, while Amazon has invested in a nuclear-powered data center campus. These initiatives reflect a growing interest among tech giants in finding reliable and sustainable energy sources to keep up with the rising energy consumption associated with AI.

Kairos Power’s SMR technology uses a molten-salt cooling system, which is expected to enhance safety and efficiency compared to traditional reactors. However, despite the potential benefits, the technology is still in its early stages and must gain regulatory approval before it can be widely adopted.

While nuclear energy offers a steady power supply that is less variable than solar or wind, it remains a topic of debate due to concerns over waste management, accident risks, and high costs. Nonetheless, with AI’s energy requirements continuing to rise, nuclear power is emerging as a promising solution for meeting the energy needs of the future.

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Google is turning to nuclear energy to help power its AI drive. On Monday, the company said it will partner with the startup Kairos Power to build seven small nuclear reactors in the US. The deal targets adding 500 megawatts of nuclear power from the small modular reactors (SMRs) by the decade’s end. The first is expected to be up and running by 2030, with the remainder arriving through 2035.

It’s the first-ever corporate deal to buy nuclear power from SMRs. Small modular reactors are smaller than existing reactors. Their components are built inside a factory rather than on-site, which can help lower construction costs compared to full-scale plants.

Kairos will need the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to approve design and construction permits for the plans. The startup has already received approval for a demonstration reactor in Tennessee, with an online date targeted for 2027. The company already builds test units (without nuclear-fuel components) at a development facility in Albuquerque, NM, where it assesses components, systems and its supply chain.

The companies didn’t announce the financial details of the arrangement. Google says the deal’s structure will help to keep costs down and get the energy online sooner.

“By procuring electricity from multiple reactors — what experts call an ‘orderbook’ of reactors — we will help accelerate the repeated reactor deployments that are needed to lower costs and bring Kairos Power’s technology to market more quickly,” Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate, wrote in a blog post. “This is an important part of our approach to scale the benefits of advanced technologies to more people and communities, and builds on our previous efforts.”

The AI boom — and the enormous amount of data center power it requires — has led to several deals between Big Tech companies and the nuclear industry. In September, Microsoft forged an agreement with Constellation Energy to bring a unit of the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania back online. In March, Amazon bought a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy.