Google has struck a deal to buy the world’s first private mini-nuclear reactors, as technology companies race to secure power for their data centres.
The US search engine giant has ordered a fleet of small modular reactors (SMRs) from California’s Kairos Power, with each mini-nuke capable of generating 500 megawatts (MW) of low-carbon electricity.
California-based Kairos said its first commercial reactor will come online by 2030, with additional reactors operational by 2035.
Google’s decision to embrace nuclear comes as the expansion of AI increases the tech sector’s energy requirements.
Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google, said: “The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies that are powering major scientific advances, improving services for businesses and customers, and driving national competitiveness and economic growth.
“This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone.”
He added: “Nuclear solutions offer a clean, round-the-clock power source that can help us reliably meet electricity demands with carbon-free energy every hour of every day.”
This latest acquisition comes after Microsoft agreed last month to buy at least 20 years of energy generated by a power plant in Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.
The plant, which is home to the worst nuclear accident in America’s history, will be reopened in 2028 as part of the deal.
This followed an agreement struck by Amazon in March to buy a 960MW nuclear-powered data centre from Talen Energy, also in Pennsylvania, for $650m (£498m).
SMRs are viewed as a promising solution for decarbonising heavy industrial operations while providing a stable power source. The reactors are factory-made and assembled on-site.
In the UK, Rolls-Royce is among the companies seeking to expand in the SMR space by developing a design it hopes to sell globally.
However, its mini nuclear reactor business posted a £78m loss last week while awaiting the outcome of a delayed UK tender competition.
Each of Rolls’s mini nuclear reactors is eventually expected to sell for between £2bn and £3bn.
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