Google has entered into an agreement to utilize small nuclear reactors to generate the substantial energy required for powering its artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The tech giant’s partnership with Kairos Power aims to deploy the first reactor by the end of this decade, with plans to expand by adding more reactors by 2035.
While the financial details and locations of these reactors have not been disclosed, the move underscores a growing trend among technology companies seeking alternative energy solutions to meet the demands of their energy-intensive data centers. Many firms are now looking to nuclear power due to its potential to provide clean and continuous energy.
Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate, emphasized the need for new energy sources to support AI’s expanding role. He remarked, “The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies. This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone.”
Other tech companies are also exploring nuclear options. Last month, Microsoft signed a deal to restart operations at the Three Mile Island power plant, the site of the infamous 1979 nuclear accident in the U.S. Similarly, in March, Amazon announced the purchase of a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.
Nuclear energy, which generates electricity with virtually no carbon emissions and operates around the clock, is increasingly attractive to tech firms looking to reduce their environmental footprint while meeting rising energy demands. However, critics caution that nuclear power comes with risks, including the production of long-lasting radioactive waste.
SOURCE: BBC
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