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Tech giant Google seals a significant nuclear power agreement, set to power its AI data centers with a 50-megawatt energy capacity.

Google collaborates with Kairos Power and Tennessee Valley Authority to provide 50 megawatts of nuclear energy for data centers situated in Tennessee and Alabama.

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Tech Giant Google Inks Large-Scale Nuclear Energy Agreement, Securing 50 Megawatts to Power AI Data...
Tech Giant Google Inks Large-Scale Nuclear Energy Agreement, Securing 50 Megawatts to Power AI Data Centers

Tech giant Google seals a significant nuclear power agreement, set to power its AI data centers with a 50-megawatt energy capacity.

Google is making strides in advancing the world's energy needs by collaborating with energy providers, utilities, and technology developers in a groundbreaking three-way agreement. The tech giant has entered into a landmark deal with Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to develop and deploy a small modular reactor (SMR) to power Google's data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.

The first phase of the project, scheduled to begin operations in 2030, will see the Hermes 2 plant, Kairos Power's advanced SMR, generating up to 50 megawatts of clean nuclear power. This marks the first electricity purchase in the US from a Generation IV SMR by a utility (TVA), aiming to provide reliable, around-the-clock power for Google's data centers.

The participants in this innovative deal include Google (the major energy buyer), Kairos Power (the developer of the SMR), and the TVA (the utility purchaser and grid operator). The agreement is part of a broader pact between Google and Kairos, with plans to scale up to seven SMRs totaling approximately 500 MW by 2035, significantly contributing to Google's clean energy supply and AI infrastructure needs.

SMRs, like Kairos Power’s, are seen as faster, cheaper to build, modular, scalable, and low-emission compared to traditional nuclear plants. They also use less land than renewables, making them an attractive option for powering data centers with stable, around-the-clock power, vital for their reliability.

This US project is one of the first commercial-scale deployments of SMRs, reflecting a maturing clean energy strategy that combines advanced nuclear and tech sector demand. The partnership spreads costs and reduces financial risks through agreements involving a major corporate buyer (Google) and a public utility (TVA), potentially paving the way for broader adoption of SMRs in the US energy mix.

While small modular reactors have been built in other countries, this US project is significant as it aims to meet the growing energy needs of Big Tech's data centers, fueled by generative artificial intelligence. Other tech companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, are also turning to nuclear power to meet their energy needs.

In October, Google signed a deal with Kairos to buy nuclear power from multiple SMRs under development. The International Energy Agency expects US data center electricity use to jump 130% between 2024 and 2030. To meet this demand, the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant could potentially be restarted.

The agreement between Google, Kairos, and TVA supports 500 megawatts of advanced nuclear capacity, enough to power about 350,000 homes. In addition, Google's data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama, will receive the nuclear power beginning in 2030.

Meanwhile, Amazon announced three nuclear-focused deals in October with Energy Northwest, X-energy, and Dominion Energy. These deals indicate a growing demand for next-generation nuclear power to meet the energy needs of the tech industry.

References:

  1. Google and Kairos Power Announce Landmark Agreement to Develop Small Modular Reactor for Clean Energy
  2. Google to Purchase Power from Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
  3. Google's Nuclear Power Deal Could Pave the Way for More Small Reactors
  4. Google, Kairos Power, and TVA Announce SMR Deal
  5. Google Signs Nuclear Power Deal with Kairos Power

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