Google plans nuclear-powered AI data centres in U.S.

October 16, 2024 - Google has signed a deal to power its growing artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in the U.S. with small, innovative nuclear reactors that use molten fluoride salt as a coolant instead of water.

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Technology giant Google has signed a partnership with Kairos Power to supply six or seven small nuclear reactors to generate the amounts of power needed to feed its growing artificial intelligence (AI) data centres.

Under the agreement, Kairos Power will develop, construct, and operate a series of advanced reactor plants that use molten fluoride salt as a coolant instead of water, and sell the energy on to Google.

The first reactor is set to begin operations later this decade, with more coming online by 2035. Kairos Power is currently building a demonstration reactor in Tennessee, due to be completed in 2027.

An increasing number of tech firms are looking to nuclear energy, which is virtually carbon-free and can provide electricity 24 hours a day, to supply the vast amounts of electricity used by huge AI data centres.

Earlier this year, Microsoft reached a deal to restart operations at the Three Mile Island energy plant, and Amazon has bought a Talen Energy nuclear-powered data centre in Pennsylvania.

Google’s plans will need to be approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission before they are allowed to proceed.