Google Goes Nuclear To Support Its AI Data Centres

Tech giant Google announced on October 14 that it will purchase nuclear power to supply energy to its AI data centres. The company plans to address the high electricity demand propelled by its AI development. 

Google signed an agreement with California-based Kairos Power to purchase nuclear energy produced by it. As part of the agreement, Google will harness nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) to be safely developed and brought online by Kairos by 2030. 

Earlier in July, the tech giant announced that it had already started using AI for climate action, considering its environmental impacts and responsibly managing its use.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced on X, “It’s the latest step in our history of accelerating clean energy sources and will help support AI investments.”

Today we signed a pioneering agreement to purchase clean energy in the US from @KairosPower, a leader in building small modular nuclear reactors. It’s the latest step in our history of accelerating clean energy sources and will help support AI investments. https://t.co/euRuuIjgdk

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 14, 2024

With this step, Google joins Microsoft in exploring the possibility of harnessing nuclear energy to fuel its operations. Microsoft began its journey in September with Constellation Energy to buy all of the electricity generated by the reactor for 20 years. Others will follow suit as big tech companies race towards nuclear energy to power their data centres and combat energy needs. 

Kairos Power’s technology features a molten-salt cooling system paired with ceramic pebble-like fuel, efficiently transferring heat to a steam turbine for power generation. 

The company claims this inherent design enables the reactor to function at low pressure, resulting in a simpler, more cost-effective nuclear reactor.

“Overall, this deal will enable up to 500 MW of new 24/7 carbon-free power to U.S. electricity grids and help more communities benefit from clean and affordable nuclear power,” the company said on its official blog. 

Why is the deal pivotal?

Today, AI technologies are a significant source of new scientific advancements, economic growth, and improved customer and business services. To sustain these technologies, it is essential to find newer, cleaner, and more efficient sources of electricity. 

Last November, Google partnered with Fervo, a clean-energy startup, to develop a geothermal power project that contributes carbon-free energy to the electric grid. 
This approach supports new advanced nuclear power sources and complements Google’s 24/7 carbon-free energy and net-zero goals of using various renewable energy sources, like solar and wind.