In a major step towards decarbonising data centre operations, Google has announced a groundbreaking agreement to purchase nuclear energy from small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Kairos Power.
This marks the world’s first corporate commitment to nuclear energy sourced from SMRs, with the aim of delivering up to 500 MW of carbon-free electricity by 2035.
This partnership positions SMRs as a key component in supporting Google’s clean energy goals and addressing growing global energy demands.
What are small modular reactors?
Small modular reactors represent the next generation of nuclear technology, designed to provide safe, reliable, and carbon-free electricity.
These reactors are smaller in size compared to traditional nuclear plants and are built using modular designs, allowing for quicker construction and deployment.
They offer numerous advantages, including enhanced safety features, lower operational costs, and flexibility in installation.
SMRs have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of industries requiring consistent, round-the-clock power, making them an attractive option for data centres, which operate 24/7.
Google’s commitment to clean energy innovation
Google has long been a pioneer in clean energy adoption. The tech giant was one of the first corporations to sign power purchase agreements for renewable energy over a decade ago.
Now, the company is taking its commitment to the next level by incorporating nuclear into its energy mix. The deal with Kairos Power is expected to accelerate the development of SMRs, aiming to have the first reactor operational by 2030 and subsequent deployments by 2035.
This move highlights the urgency of finding new electricity sources to support emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), which require substantial computational power.
AI is driving advancements across various sectors, and SMRs offer a stable and clean energy source to meet these growing demands, ensuring uninterrupted power for data-intensive operations.
Jeff Olson, Kairos Power’s Vice President of Business Development & Finance, commented: “Having an agreement for multiple deployments is important to accelerate the commercialisation of advanced nuclear energy by demonstrating the technical and market viability of a solution critical to decarbonising power grids while delivering much-needed energy generation and capacity.”
The importance of powering data centres with clean energy
Data centres are the backbone of today’s digital economy, housing the vast amounts of data needed to keep services running smoothly.
However, they are also major consumers of electricity. As demand for cloud computing and AI services increases, so does the need for sustainable and reliable energy sources to power these facilities.
SMRs provide an ideal solution for powering data centres with clean, carbon-free energy. Unlike intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar, nuclear power delivers constant electricity. This consistent energy supply is crucial for data centres, which cannot afford power disruptions.
Moreover, as companies like Google continue to scale up operations, utilising SMRs can help meet their carbon neutrality goals while simultaneously supporting global efforts to combat climate change.
Benefits of SMR technology for local communities
Investing in advanced nuclear technology, such as SMRs, goes beyond environmental benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nuclear energy provides the highest economic impact of any power generation source.
Reaching 200 GW of advanced nuclear capacity in the US by 2050 could create hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs.
For local communities, SMR deployments offer long-term employment opportunities and economic growth.
Google’s collaboration with Kairos Power underscores this potential, as the project not only focuses on clean energy innovation but also aims to boost the economy through job creation and infrastructure development.
Kairos Power’s advanced technology
Kairos Power’s SMR technology is unique, utilising a molten-salt cooling system combined with a ceramic, pebble-type fuel.
This innovative system allows the reactor to operate at low pressure, improving safety and reducing costs. The company is following an iterative development approach, conducting hardware demonstrations to refine its design and speed up the deployment of its commercial reactors.
Kairos Power has already achieved critical milestones, including breaking ground on its Hermes non-powered demonstration reactor in Tennessee, the first advanced reactor project in the US to receive a construction permit.
This progress sets the stage for future deployments of small modular reactors that will help power Google’s data centres and other industries with clean, reliable energy.
A path to a carbon-free future
By investing in small modular reactors, Google is not only securing a cleaner energy future for its data centres but also driving the adoption of advanced nuclear technologies that could transform energy grids worldwide.
SMRs, combined with other renewable energy sources, offer a viable path to achieving 24/7 carbon-free energy, accelerating the global transition to a more sustainable future.
