Google has announced a groundbreaking deal with Kairos Power to use small nuclear reactors to generate the substantial energy required to power its artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
This partnership marks a significant step toward addressing the growing energy demands of AI technologies, which are expected to rise in the coming years.
Under the agreement, Kairos Power will provide Google with small modular reactors (SMRs), with the first reactor expected to come online by the end of this decade and more to follow by 2035. Although financial details and the locations of the reactors have not been disclosed, the deal is seen as a major move toward commercializing advanced nuclear technology to support the energy needs of AI.
Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate, highlighted the importance of new energy sources.
“This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone,” Terrell said.
Kairos Power, a California-based startup, specializes in developing small reactors that use molten fluoride salt as a coolant instead of water, a key feature that makes their reactors safer and more efficient. Last year, the company received the first permit in 50 years from US regulators to build a new type of nuclear reactor, and construction of a demonstration reactor is already underway in Tennessee.
Nuclear power has become an increasingly attractive option for tech companies like Google due to its carbon-free electricity generation and 24/7 availability. As data centers continue to expand, global energy consumption by these facilities is projected to more than double by the end of the decade. John Moore, industry editor at TechTarget, explained that AI data centers consume large amounts of energy, both to run the specialized hardware and to maintain adequate cooling systems.
Google’s collaboration with Kairos Power is part of a broader trend in the tech industry’s shift toward nuclear energy. Other tech giants, including Microsoft and Amazon, have also made moves toward utilizing nuclear power to meet their growing energy demands. This comes as part of global efforts to decarbonize power grids and move away from fossil fuels, with the US among a group of nations committed to tripling their nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
While nuclear power offers a clean and reliable energy solution, it is not without controversy. Critics have raised concerns about long-lasting radioactive waste and the risks associated with nuclear technology. However, proponents argue that innovations like SMRs offer a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional nuclear plants, providing a sustainable energy source for industries that are rapidly increasing their consumption.
