Google bets on small nuclear power plants: pioneering contract for clean energy

The digital world of the future has a new energy pioneer: Google. The technology company is the first to announce its intention to procure electrical energy through an agreement with Kairos Power from small modular reactors (SMRs) – a milestone on the path to environmentally friendly energy supply available around the clock. The ambitious plan envisions the first of these compact reactors going online by 2030. More are to follow by 2035, but it remains unclear which U.S. regions will see their development. The planned total capacity of 500 megawatts is spread across six to seven reactors, which is modest compared to the output of today's larger plants. The growing energy demand of artificial intelligence is prompting not only Google to seek innovative solutions. Other major players in the tech universe have followed this path: Amazon allied with a Talen Energy data center back in March, and Microsoft has been cooperating with Constellation Energy since last month to bring the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania back to life. In view of the increasing demand for data center energy, Goldman Sachs forecasts a growth of around 47 gigawatts in the U.S. by 2030, which is to be covered by diverse energy sources. Google's initiative now critically depends on approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local authorities. Critics express concerns about the costs and potential nuclear waste of SMRs. However, Google, opting for a contract model encompassing multiple reactors, sends a strong signal to the market with this strategic move – a commitment to long-term investments. Trust in the form of innovation is paramount, as Kairos Power CEO Mike Laufer emphasizes: "This novel approach will drive our projects on time and within budget.