The writer is managing director of consultancy Emys Energy
The energy hungry AI boom is fuelling a new nuclear age of small modular reactors. Technology groups need reliable power for their ambitious data centre plans and they like the idea of zero-emission, right-sized, nearby sources. As the US electric grid struggles with demand, more companies are making their own deals with nuclear SMR power providers. Even if they don’t provide enough clean energy to meet the sector’s 2030 goals, the investments will help the long-term transition to clean energy.
Last week, Meta announced agreements with two SMR start-ups. It is prepaying for power from up to eight of TerraPower’s Natrium reactors and up to 16 of Oklo’s Aurora reactors. This will make it one of the biggest corporate buyers of nuclear energy. Amazon, Google and other data centre developers have also signed deals with SMR start-ups including NuScale, X-energy and Kairos Power. Combined, I calculate that these deals will provide less than four gigawatts of power by 2030.