Google has announced plans to power its AI data centers with nuclear energy by 2030. The company has partnered with Kairos Power to develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), with the first advanced reactor, Hermes 2, set to be operational in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, by 2030. This reactor will deliver up to 50 megawatts of clean, carbon-free electricity to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) grid, supporting Google’s data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.
This is Google’s first-ever corporate power purchase agreement for Generation IV nuclear reactors and represents a significant step toward meeting the rapidly increasing energy demands driven by AI and digital technologies. The broader agreement aims to bring up to 500 megawatts of new nuclear capacity online by 2035 to supply Google’s growing energy needs.
Google, Kairos Power, and TVA collaborate to share financial risks and operational responsibilities, ensuring that consumers of TVA are not burdened with the initial costs of building this new nuclear infrastructure. This move aligns with Google’s sustainability goals to power its operations with 24/7 carbon-free electricity and supports the broader transition to clean, reliable, and scalable energy sources for AI and cloud computing.
The Hermes 2 reactor uses advanced liquid salt cooling technology, which offers safety and cost advantages over traditional nuclear plants. This project is part of Google’s ongoing investments in clean energy, including hydropower, geothermal, and fusion energy initiatives.
Through these efforts, Google aims to assure a sustainable and resilient energy supply that can meet future AI power requirements while supporting U.S. leadership in clean energy innovation.
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