How Google plans to use nuclear reactors to power AI

Google has become the first corporation to sign an agreement to purchase power from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs). The tech giant’s latest deal with US-based Kairos Power aims to provide clean energy to fuel Google's growing artificial intelligence operations. The agreement will see Kairos' first SMR come online by 2030, with additional reactors deployed through 2035.

In a blog post, Google has promised to purchase 500 megawatts of power from these reactors, which is enough to power a small city. While the financial terms and specific locations for the reactors rem ai n undisclosed, this deal signifies a major step towards the adoption of SMR technology and its potential to provide reliable, carbon-free energy for power-demanding technologies like AI.


What are small modular reactors


Google's agreement with Kairos Power involves a commitment to purchase power from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs), which are smaller, factory-built reactors designed to reduce construction costs.

However, critics argue that SMRs may be expensive due to the lack of economies of scale and raise concerns about the production of nuclear waste.
Google has argued that this deal is a commitment to a long-term “order book framework” with Kairos that will not only increase market demand but also encourage faster development of SMR technology.

Before constructing the reactors for Google, Kairos Power needs to navigate a lengthy permitting process. This includes obtaining approval from both the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for design and construction, as well as securing permits from local agencies, which can typically take several years. Last year, Kairos received a construction permit from the NRC for a demonstration reactor in Tennessee.


Tech companies looking at nuclear power


The increasing power demands of artificial intelligence have led tech companies to explore nuclear energy as a power source. In March, Amazon purchased a nuclear-powered data centre while Microsoft signed a deal to help resurrect a unit of the Three Mile Island plant last month. These agreements come as Goldman Sachs estimates that US data centre power usage is expected to triple by 2030, requiring significant new generation capacity.