Enterprise power crunch drives nuclear innovation
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted approval for the construction of the Oak Ridge facility in November 2024, marking a significant milestone as the first non-water-cooled reactor to be allowed in the US in over 50 years.
Kairos Power revealed plans to enhance the Hermes 2 reactor’s output from the initial 28 megawatts to 50 megawatts, with operations set to commence in 2030. Additionally, Google’s collaboration involved the potential deployment of up to 500 megawatts of Kairos reactors by 2035.
With the escalating electricity demands driven by artificial intelligence operations, the innovation in nuclear technology arrives at a crucial juncture for enterprises. Data center electricity consumption has surged over the years, projected to reach between 325 and 580 terawatt-hours by 2028, according to the Department of Energy.
Unlike renewable energy sources, nuclear reactors offer consistent baseload power regardless of weather conditions, making them ideal for data centers that require uninterrupted operations. Google’s requirement for nuclear power stems from the need to support its data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, with the 50-megawatt output matching the electricity consumption of approximately 36,000 homes.
“To meet the energy demands of the future, we must expand the availability of reliable energy sources,” stated Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global head of data center energy.
