Google Invests in Nuclear Energy with Kairos Power to Build Small Modular Reactors

Google has announced a new agreement with Kairos Power to acquire small modular nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 500 megawatts. This deal marks a strategic step towards enhancing Google’s efforts in clean energy, as Kairos Power, a startup established seven years ago, aims to operate its first commercial reactor by 2030, with plans for additional reactors by 2035.

In a statement, Michael Terrell, Google’s Director of Energy and Climate, emphasized that the agreement represents a milestone in the company’s 15-year journey towards clean energy. He noted that nuclear energy can play a central role in meeting the company’s energy needs cleanly and around the clock.

While the parties did not disclose the value of the agreement or financing details, Terrell stated that Google is exploring all options related to connecting the reactors to either the power grid or data centers directly. Technology companies are increasingly interested in nuclear energy as a temporary solution to providing low-carbon electricity to meet their data center needs.

Google’s deal with Kairos Power is the first of its kind where a technology company participates in building a nuclear power station, indicating that the United States has only brought three new reactors into service in the past two decades. Terrell mentioned that small nuclear reactors feature simplified and safe designs, faster construction, and flexibility in deployment compared to traditional plants.

Terrell noted that Google heavily relies on renewable energy, but stated that achieving a carbon-free grid requires more than just solar and wind energy, necessitating a different set of advanced technologies.

Based in Alameda, California, Kairos Power has developed a molten salt-cooled reactor, which has received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a 50-megawatt prototype reactor in Tennessee named “Hermes.” This is the first of its kind approval for a reactor in the United States in half a century.

On the other hand, the U.S. Department of Energy is investing approximately $300 million in the “Hermes” project as part of its support for smaller nuclear reactors. This initiative aims to reduce costs and accelerate plant construction, relying on reactors that can be built in factories and assembled on-site.

It is expected that the power generated by Kairos Power’s reactors, intended for Google, will provide 75 megawatts per reactor, focusing on the U.S. market.

This development comes at a time of increasing demand for energy in the United States, particularly with the growing need to build more data centers to meet artificial intelligence needs. Previously, Microsoft announced its commitment to purchase electricity from a nuclear power station, while Amazon bought a data center from another nuclear station.

The energy produced by Kairos Power’s reactors is expected to be sufficient to power a medium-sized city or a complex for artificial intelligence data centers, reflecting the growing trend of major companies relying on nuclear energy as a sustainable solution for the future of energy.