Google signs deal for nuclear energy to power AI datacenters
Nuclear energy to fuel artificial intelligence (photo: Getty Images)
As part of new efforts to power its AI data centers with clean energy, Google has turned to nuclear energy and signed a partnership with American company Kairos Power, which is developing small modular reactors (SMRs), according to the European news channel and Euronews website, which provides up-to-date international news.
Details of the agreement
"Today, we’re... signing the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) to be developed by Kairos Power," stated Google.
The first such reactor, powering a Google data center, is expected to be operational by 2030, with additional reactor deployments planned by 2035.
This agreement will provide up to 500 MW of new round-the-clock carbon-free energy for US power grids. The grids require new energy sources to support AI technologies.
This is enough to power approximately 360,000 homes annually.
Data centers are the heart of the digital economy, and their overall energy consumption is expected to double from 2023 to 2028, reaching 857 terawatt-hours (TWh) by the end of the period.
Kairos Power is developing small modular reactors using a molten salt cooling system (instead of water), promising shorter construction times and adaptable solutions for local needs.
However, the technology is not yet ready, so the agreement is seen as a significant step towards long-term commercial scale.
This summer, Kairos Power began construction of its demonstration reactor in Tennessee, the first such project to receive construction approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone," added Google.
The company did not disclose the cost of the agreement or the planned reactor locations.
