Google Signs Historic Agreement to Power AI Data Centers With Small Nuclear Reactors by 2030

Microsoft and Amazon, are also pursuing nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demands for their data centers.

By Thea Felicity

Oct 15 2024, 11:35 AM EDT

GHLIN GOOGLE 15 YEARS EVENT — Illustration picture shows the Google logo, during a visit to the Google company in Ghlin on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Google data centre in Belgium, Friday 21 October 2022. NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Days after news of a possible breakup over unfair search engine dominance, Google remains in the headlines with an innovative way to power up its AI data centers.

This time, Google is making a historic partnership with Kairos Power, which will give it the chance to bring the first nuclear reactor online no later than 2030.

BBC reported that Google will be using small nuclear reactors from Kairos Power to power its AI data centers. The success of this plan means that this partnership will show the industry the first reactor operational within this decade. Additional reactors are still being planned by 2035.

As of the moment, no information has been revealed yet on how much the deal cost Google or what the location of the reactors would be. However, this is not the first time a tech giant has planned to use nuclear energy to meet the massive electricity demands of their AI data centers.

Earlier this year, VCPost learned that Microsoft made a deal to restart operations at the Three Mile Island energy plant, while Amazon will buy a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.

Senior director of Energy and Climate of Google, Michael Terrell, clarified that the new sources will only be essential for the electricity needed to support the company's ambitious AI technologies. He added that this partnership will help open up the development of advanced nuclear energy more. For Kairos exec., Jeff Olson, this deal also maneuvers in solutions that can help reduce carbon emissions and make clean and reliable energy source options.

Google to Use Nuclear Energy for Data Centers

Now, however, Google's plans must still receive approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local agencies before it move forward. For reference, Kairos Power stated that they received a permit, the first in 50 years, to build a new type of nuclear reactor. The company has been constructing a demonstration reaction in Tennessee in July ever since.

With nuclear power known for being nearly carbon-free and a provider of constant electricity, it poses a great appeal to the tech industry. According to VCPost, the US Senate has already picked up this specific pace to meet the urgency of companies that are currently under pressure to reduce emissions, and hopefully triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

Looking ahead, global energy consumption by data centers will more than double by the end of the decade, and AI data centers will require more electricity to power their specialized hardware and keep them cool at the same time.