Google has made a groundbreaking move in the tech industry by signing a deal to use small nuclear reactors to power its artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. The agreement with Kairos Power will see Google start using the first reactor this decade and bring more online by 2035.
The companies have not disclosed the financial details of the deal or where the plants will be built. However, this partnership marks a significant shift in the energy sources used by technology firms to power their massive data centres that drive AI.
Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google, emphasized the importance of new electricity sources to support AI technologies. He stated, “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 highlighted the significance of the deal in advancing the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy. He mentioned that the agreement demonstrates the technical and market viability of a solution critical to decarbonizing power grids.
Before the plans can proceed, they must be approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local agencies. Last year, Kairos Power received the first permit in 50 years to build a new type of nuclear reactor, and in July, the company began construction of a demonstration reactor in Tennessee.
Kairos Power specializes in developing smaller reactors that use molten fluoride salt as a coolant, a departure from traditional nuclear plants that use water. Nuclear power, being virtually carbon-free and providing electricity 24 hours a day, has become increasingly attractive to the tech industry as it aims to reduce emissions while using more energy.
With global energy consumption by data centres expected to more than double by the end of the decade, the move towards nuclear energy is seen as a crucial step in meeting the growing demand for power. At a United Nations Climate Change Conference last year, the US joined a group of countries looking to triple their nuclear energy capacity by 2050 as part of efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
Despite the benefits, critics of nuclear power point out the risks involved and the long-lasting radioactive waste produced. Last month, Microsoft reached a deal to restart operations at the Three Mile Island energy plant, the site of America’s worst nuclear accident in 1979. In March, Amazon also announced plans to purchase a nuclear-powered data centre in Pennsylvania.
The tech industry’s shift towards nuclear energy signifies a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future, as companies strive to meet the energy demands of advancing technologies like AI.
