Google Partners With Kairos Power To Purchase Nuclear Energy

Google has signed the world's first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) to be developed by Kairos Power. The tech giant said that the agreement is part of the efforts to develop and commercialize a broad portfolio of advanced clean electricity technologies to power global data centers and offices. 

The initial phase of work is intended to bring Kairos Power’s first SMR online by 2030, followed by additional reactor deployments through 2035. Meanwhile, Google did not disclose the financial terms of the historic deal. The seven reactors will be capable of generating 500 megawatts of power. 

According to a BBC report, the plans still have to be approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local agencies before they are allowed to proceed. The latest deal is considered significant as the demand for electricity surges, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and other technologies.

Other technology firms have also signed agreements with nuclear power companies recently. In September, Microsoft mentioned that it would pay Constellation Energy to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania that was shuttered in 2019. Earlier this year, Amazon also reportedly purchased a nuclear-powered datacenter from Talen Energy.