Google Invests in Next-Gen Nuclear Data Centers

Key points:

• Google has signed a deal to purchase electricity from a non-water-cooled nuclear reactor in Tennessee to power its data centers, marking a breakthrough for next-generation nuclear technology.
• The reactor, designed by Kairos Power utilizes a revolutionary molten salt coolant system and TRISO fuel, eliminating the risk of nuclear meltdown and reducing construction costs, making it a game-changer for the nuclear industry and a significant development for Microsoft and other tech companies that rely on stable and efficient energy sources.
• The deal highlights the increasing demand for reliable and carbon-free baseload power from enterprises, particularly hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which are driving innovation in the nuclear industry and utilizing Azure and other cloud services to support their growing energy needs.

Google has signed a historic deal to purchase electricity from a non-water-cooled nuclear reactor in Tennessee, a move that marks a significant breakthrough for next-generation nuclear technology. The agreement between Google, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and nuclear startup Kairos Power has made TVA the first US utility to commit to purchasing electricity from a Generation IV reactor, which promises to eliminate meltdowns and slash construction costs. This development is particularly notable for Windows Server users, as it highlights the growing importance of reliable and efficient energy sources for data centers.

The Kairos Power reactor represents a radical departure from conventional nuclear plants, using molten fluoride salt as a coolant instead of water. This design eliminates the risk of nuclear meltdown, a scenario that has driven public fear of nuclear power since accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima. The reactor also employs TRISO fuel, which physically cannot melt, even at extreme temperatures. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the construction of the Oak Ridge facility, marking the first non-water-cooled reactor permitted in the US in over 50 years. This approval is a significant milestone for the nuclear industry and has implications for Microsoft’s Azure and other cloud services that rely on stable and efficient energy sources.

The technology breakthrough comes at a critical time for enterprises facing explosive electricity demands from artificial intelligence operations. Data center electricity use has risen significantly in recent years, and is expected to continue to grow. Nuclear reactors provide constant baseload power regardless of weather conditions, making them a vital source of energy for data centers. Google’s agreement with Kairos Power will provide up to 50 megawatts of reliable, 24/7 energy to the TVA grid, which powers Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. This deal highlights the increasing demand for reliable and carbon-free baseload power from enterprises, particularly hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

The deal also highlights a new approach to addressing cost concerns that have hurt nuclear power’s reputation. Instead of utility customers paying for construction, Google and Kairos Power will cover the costs of building the reactor, with TVA simply buying the electricity once it’s running. This risk-sharing model protects TVA’s customers from paying for an experimental project and represents a three-party solution where energy customers, utilities, and technology developers work together to advance new technologies. This model has implications for Microsoft and other tech companies that are looking to invest in new energy sources and reduce their carbon footprint.

While the Google deal marks a breakthrough for next-generation nuclear technology, industry analysts warn that these new reactors face significant hurdles that could limit their availability to most companies. Licensing hurdles, decade-long construction cycles, and community resistance mean that meaningful deployments will materialize only in the 2030s. A Deloitte analysis suggests that new nuclear power capacity could meet about 10% of projected data center power demand growth over the next decade. The nuclear advantage is likely to remain concentrated among hyperscale companies with deep pockets and long-term planning horizons, such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Big tech companies are racing to lock up advanced nuclear capacity, with Google’s deal representing the first commitment to Generation IV technology. Previous corporate nuclear investments have focused on existing reactor designs or restarting shuttered plants. The nuclear investments reflect efforts by hyperscalers to secure competitive advantages in AI development, and to guarantee firm, carbon-free baseload power in an era where digital infrastructure depends on energy certainty. As the demand for reliable and efficient energy sources continues to grow, it’s likely that we’ll see more deals like this in the future, and Microsoft and other tech companies will be at the forefront of this trend.

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