Major technological corporations, such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, are investing significantly in nuclear energy to fulfil the growing power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure while lowering carbon emissions.
An adventurous move into nuclear
Amazon and Google are working on new small modular reactors (SMRs), while Microsoft has teamed to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power station. Nuclear power, which now accounts for 18% of US electricity and much more in other European countries, delivers steady, carbon-free energy—essential for powering AI Goals. However, previous incidents, such as those at Three Mile Island (1979), Chornobyl (1986), and Fukushima (2011), have long hampered nuclear expansion. Recent legislative improvements, such as President Biden’s streamlining of nuclear plant regulations, aim to revive interest.
Important initiatives
Amazon is leading the effort, investing $500 million in X-energy, a pioneer in SMR design. These reactors use sophisticated fuels that are resistant to corrosion, melting, and high-temperature dangers. Amazon intends to build a 320-megawatt reactor in Washington and a 300-megawatt reactor in Virginia, with prospective additions. Meanwhile, Google has partnered with Kairos Power, which has begun construction on a demonstration reactor in Tennessee. Operations will begin in 2027, with larger-scale reactors capable of producing up to 500 megawatts anticipated for 2035.
Microsoft, on the other hand, has reached a 20-year arrangement with Constellation Energy to restart Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor, which is anticipated to be operational by 2028.
Leading Factors
The IT industry’s shift to nuclear energy is driven by the enormous energy requirements of data centres that train and run AI models and aspirations to carbon neutrality. AI-related workloads are expected to consume over 1,000 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2026, more than doubling the usage in 2022. Industry leaders, including Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI, have proposed an “energy New Deal” to fund new power plants.
Upcoming Concerns
Although future-oriented reactors promise both safety and economy, the issue of nuclear waste disposal remains unresolved. Few countries have a secure long-term storage solution, and the United States’ efforts remain stopped.
As AI rivalry heats up, nuclear energy provides a long-term, dependable source of electricity. It allows tech titans to lead a low-carbon energy transformation. Big IT corporations are using nuclear energy to power their AI Goals.
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