Partnership for a Radiant Future: Tech Giants Bet on Nuclear Power

Tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are making headlines by entering into partnerships with companies engaged in the construction and operation of advanced nuclear power plants. This week, notably Kairos Power and X-Energy Reactor Co., both of which have projects planned in Oak Ridge, announced significant partnerships. To handle the vast amounts of data required for AI models, data centers are seeking continuous and carbon-free energy. In this context, nuclear power proves to be an attractive complement to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Kairos Power, a California-based company, plans to build a 35-megawatt salt-cooled test reactor in Oak Ridge by 2026 and has announced that Google will be supplied with electricity for its future data centers. This cooperation marks the first corporate deal for multiple deployments of a unified advanced reactor design in the United States. X-Energy Reactor Co. is receiving a substantial investment from Amazon to establish a new TRISO nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge. This facility is set to produce fuel that will also be used by Kairos Power. A major leap for advanced nuclear technology, this effort, supported by these technology giants, also holds the potential to make significant strides towards climate-friendly energy supply.