Google signs nuclear power deal with startup Kairos for AI energy needs

Google goes nuclear to power AI data centres

The tech giant Google has entered into an agreement to source energy from small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to meet the rising energy needs of its artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This groundbreaking deal represents the first time a corporation has committed to purchasing power from multiple SMRs, marking a significant step in using advanced nuclear technology to support AI-driven energy demands.

The tech giant partnered with Kairos Power to bring the first SMR online by 2030, with more reactors planned byr 2035. Google will purchase a total of 500 megawatts of power from six to seven reactors, which are smaller than traditional nuclear plants. Financial details and reactor locations remain undisclosed.

“We feel like nuclear can play an important role in helping to meet our demand … cleanly in a way that’s more around the clock,” said Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate. This move aims to ensure reliable, clean energy for Google’s AI infrastructure, which requires a steady power supply to support increasing workloads.

Power demand among tech companies is surging, largely due to the rapid expansion of AI technologies. Google is not alone in turning to nuclear power to address these needs. Earlier this year, Amazon acquired a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy, and Microsoft signed a deal with Constellation Energy to help revive a reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.

According to a report, Goldman Sachs estimates that US data center power consumption will triple between 2023 and 2030, requiring approximately 47 gigawatts of new generation capacity. Traditionally, natural gas, wind, and solar have been the primary sources to fill this gap, but companies like Google are now exploring SMRs as a reliable alternative.

Small modular reactors are designed to be smaller, more flexible, and potentially more cost-effective than traditional reactors. Unlike conventional nuclear plants, SMRs are built with components manufactured in factories rather than on-site, which can reduce construction costs and timelines. However, critics argue that SMRs may still be expensive due to limited economies of scale and will generate long-lasting nuclear waste, which remains an unresolved issue without a permanent disposal solution.

Know how Kairos Power’s technology works

Kairos Power’s technology uses a special cooling system with molten salt, along with ceramic pebble fuel, to transfer heat to a steam turbine, which then generates power. The system is designed to be safe and works at low pressure, which makes the reactor simpler and cheaper to build.

Kairos Power takes a step-by-step approach, testing its technology with several hardware demonstrations before building its first commercial reactor. This will help them learn and make improvements, speeding up reactor deployments and providing more cost certainty for Google and other customers.

Kairos Power has already made progress towards building its first power-producing reactor. This summer, the company began construction on its Hermes demonstration reactor in Tennessee, which is the first advanced reactor project in the US to get a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Google’s collaboration with Kairos Power takes an innovative approach by committing to an “order book framework” instead of buying reactors individually. This framework reflects Google’s long-term commitment to supporting small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) technology, showing a broader investment in clean and reliable energy solutions for its growing power needs.

“We’re confident that this novel approach is going to improve the prospects of our projects being delivered on cost and on schedule,” said Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder of Kairos Power.

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