• Google partners with Elementl Power to build three small modular reactor (SMR) facilities in the U.S., each generating 600+ megawatts, to power its AI-driven data centers with clean energy.
• With data center energy use projected to double by 2030, Google prioritizes nuclear for reliable, carbon-free baseload power, unlike intermittent renewables like wind or solar.
• Google joins Microsoft and Amazon in backing SMR projects, aiming to secure energy independence and infrastructure control amid rising computational demands.
• While SMRs promise faster, safer deployment, hurdles include regulatory delays, public skepticism and unproven scalability. Google’s partnerships (e.g., Kairos Power) aim to validate the technology.
• Tech giants view nuclear as critical to future-proofing operations, with investments like Amazon’s X-energy deal and Microsoft’s $2.4B reactor bet signaling a shift toward owning energy infrastructure.

Tech giant Google has deepened its commitment to nuclear energy innovation, announcing a $500 million partnership with nuclear developer Elementl Power to build three advanced small modular reactor (SMR) facilities in the U.S. Each plant will generate at least 600 megawatts of power — enough to supply a medium-sized city — providing clean energy to fuel its data centers amid skyrocketing demands from AI and machine learning operations. This marks Google’s latest move in a broader strategy to secure reliable power for its energy-intensive tech infrastructure, while positioning itself as a leader in cutting-edge energy solutions.

The agreement, announced Wednesday, comes as Silicon Valley giants brace for the computational power crunch driven by AI. Google joins competitors Microsoft and Amazon in directly investing in nuclear projects, aiming to decouple energy needs from reliance on carbon-heavy grids.

The strategic shift: Why nuclear power for AI?

Google’s decision to fund Elementl’s projects reflects an urgency to adapt to the AI era’s power dynamics. A recent International Energy Agency report projects data center energy consumption will double by 2030, driven by algorithms that require massive server farms to train and run. “Advanced nuclear technology provides reliable, baseload, 24/7 energy,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s Global Head of Data Center Energy, during a press briefing. “This collaboration accelerates our ability to keep pace with AI innovation while advancing American energy leadership.”

Unlike wind or solar, nuclear reactors offer consistent output, eliminating renewable energy’s intermittency issues. The partnership with Elementl — who plans to select among promising SMR designs by 2030 — aligns with Google’s goal of securing carbon-free power by 2030.

The deal’s early-stage capital will cover site permitting, transmission grid connections and regulatory approvals, though final locations remain undisclosed. Google retains the option to buy electricity once operational, a priority as its data centers consume roughly 5 terawatt-hours annually—the equivalent of providing power to 400,000 U.S. homes.

Small modular reactors: Revolution or risk?

The development underscores the tech sector’s bet on SMRs, compact nuclear reactors that proponents claim are safer, faster to build and scalable. Elementl remains “technology agnostic,” meaning it will choose reactor designs after evaluating all options, including Kairos Power’s molten-salt-cooled models first announced last year.

Kairos, a separate partner of Google’s, plans its own SMR project with a 50-megawatt pilot reactor in Tennessee, with commercial-scale units expected by 2035. Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of energy and climate, emphasized the Kairos collaboration as a “critical step” to proving SMR viability, insisting the company seeks only “net new clean power” from untapped projects.

Yet SMRs face hurdles beyond engineering. Building reactors in the U.S. requires navigating lengthy environmental reviews and public trust issues, especially after disasters like the 1979 Three Mile Island accident. Microsoft’s controversial repurposing of that site — a nod to its advanced waste management—highlights lingering anxieties.

A new era of corporate energy sovereignty

Google’s partnerships reflect a broader shift in tech’s approach to energy sourcing. Amazon invested in X-energy’s SMR projects in 2023, while Microsoft is betting $2.4 billion on the Georgia-based Southern Company’s reactors. “Tech companies view nuclear as a must-have in their energy portfolios,” noted nuclear economist Erwinnia Zhao of the Breakthrough Institute. “It’s not just about power—it’s about owning the infrastructure driving tomorrow’s digital economy.”

The collaboration also signals resilience in the face of political challenges. The Nuclear Energy Innovation Act, passed in 2018, streamlined SMR certifications, but financing and community buy-in remain unresolved for projects like those in the U.S. Southeast.

Navigating the atomic crossroads

Google’s wager on nuclear energy underscores a delicate balancing act between innovation and caution. While proponents see it as a lifeline for grid stability and carbon neutrality, critics warn of unchecked costs and unresolved risks. For now, the partnership with Elementl and rivals’ similar moves could redefine the future of data center infrastructure—if SMRs can deliver as promised.

As Amanda Corio put it, the stakes are existential: “Innovation doesn’t wait for perfect conditions—it transforms them.” The same goes for nuclear’s comeback in a world relentlessly thirsty for digital power.

Sources for this article include:

100percentfedup.com

Business.Inquirer.net

Bloomberg.com