Kairos Power plans to build small nuclear reactors to power Google’s data centers, marking a first-of-its-kind deal in the U.S. This is part of Google’s broader goal to achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, ensuring reliable, scalable power for its growing cloud computing and AI needs.
In a landmark move, Google has announced plans to purchase six or seven small nuclear reactors from California-based Kairos Power, marking the first significant investment by a tech giant in nuclear energy to power its AI-driven data centers.
Under the terms of this groundbreaking agreement, Google will support the construction of these reactors in the U.S. and commit to purchasing the electricity they generate. This initiative aims to deliver 500 megawatts of nuclear power by the end of the decade, helping address Google’s increasing energy needs while contributing to a U.S. nuclear energy revival.
A 500-megawatt (MW) nuclear power plant could power approximately 375,000 homes.
This move reinforces Google's leadership in clean energy and signals a broader industry trend, with Microsoft—backed by Bill Gates' TerraPower—and Amazon also exploring nuclear power to achieve sustainability goals and support AI-driven technologies. TerraPower advocates for nuclear energy as a long-term decarbonization solution, highlighting its role in balancing energy needs and sustainability efforts across the tech sector (read Platocom's blog "AI, Nuclear Power, Data Centers and Bill Gates" here).
Nuclear energy's consistent, carbon-free power is essential for tech giants balancing operational demands with the exponential growth of AI.
Why Google and Others Are Turning to Nuclear Energy
Google's strategy aligns with similar initiatives from Microsoft and Amazon. For example, Microsoft has signed a power purchase agreement with Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear plant as part of its sustainability efforts. With the rapid growth of AI applications and the increasing energy demands from data centers, these companies are leading the charge to decarbonize their energy consumption.
“The end goal here is 24/7, carbon-free energy,” said Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Alphabet’s Google. “We feel like in order to meet goals around round-the-clock clean energy, you’re going to need to have technologies that complement wind and solar and lithium-ion storage.”
Why Nuclear Energy?
Tech giants are turning to nuclear energy because it provides stable, round-the-clock electricity—crucial for powering AI and cloud infrastructure. Unlike renewable sources such as solar and wind, which are intermittent, nuclear energy offers consistent, carbon-free power. This makes it an ideal solution for balancing energy grids and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, especially as the industry seeks to scale clean energy solutions.
Clean Energy Leadership
This shift highlights a broader trend of tech companies moving toward clean energy leadership. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are not just addressing their current energy needs but also investing in long-term infrastructure that supports sustainability. Their investments in nuclear power demonstrate a commitment to global decarbonization—a topic we’ve covered before in our Platocom blog, especially when Bill Gates advocated for nuclear energy as essential for the clean energy transition.
What’s Next?
As AI and cloud computing continue to grow, we can expect to see further investments in scalable, reliable clean energy solutions. Nuclear energy is likely to remain central to tech companies’ energy strategies, helping them meet ambitious sustainability targets.
This wave of innovation by tech giants is a clear example of putting energy where your mouth is, proving that they are serious about reducing emissions and investing in the infrastructure that will power the next generation of technology.
For more on how nuclear energy is reshaping tech, check out our previous blog on Microsoft’s clean energy investments.
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