Google’s nuclear reactors project maintains its ambitions in using nuclear energy as it inks an agreement with Kairos Power to make this feasible. The technological company seeks to use small nuclear reactors to generate the vast amounts of energy required to power its AI data centers. Furthermore, the company notes that its agreement with Kairos Power will ensure the viability of this project soon. The scope of implementation is expected in this decade and more brought online by 2035. The companies did not provide any details about where the plants will be located.
However, based on an approximation, it is expected that the cost of the entire project may surmount to $10 billion. Technology firms are increasingly turning to nuclear sources as an alternative option. One of the reasons is the vast amounts of energy needed to supply the electricity used by the huge data centers that drive AI. “The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies,” said Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google.
The Significance of Google’s Nuclear Reactors Project
Once implemented, Google’s nuclear reactors project is expected to have unprecedented benefits that will advance technology. “This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably. It also unlocks the full potential of AI for everyone,” said Kairos executive Jeff Olsen. Furthermore, Olsen noted that, “The deal with Google is important to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy by demonstrating the technical and market viability of a solution critical to decarbonizing power grids.”
The plans still have to be approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Furthermore, local agencies also have to assert is viability before they are allowed to proceed. The project also cements the role of Kairos as a nuclear energy company in the U.S. Last year, US regulators gave the company the first permit in fifty years to build a new type of nuclear reactor. In July, the company started construction of a demonstration reactor in Tennessee. Moreover, Google’s ambitious project enables it to leverage more eco-friendly sources of energy to power its AI centers.
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The Perception Regarding the Multibillion-Dollar Project
Many see Google’s nuclear reactors project as a step towards the right direction, which many should follow. According to statistics from Wall Street banking Giant Goldman Sachs, global energy consumption by data centers is expected to more than double by the end of the decade. The use of nuclear energy is essential to power this power hungry stations without overburdening the country’s grid. “These data centres are equipped with specialised hardware… that require lots of power, that generate lots of heat,” noted John Moore, Industry Editor for the TechTarget website.
Commendably, the US has shown ambition in supporting efforts to go nuclear. At a United Nations Climate Change Conference last year, the US made a commendable feat. It joined a group of countries that want to triple their nuclear energy capacity by 2050. This is part of the efforts to move away from fossil fuels. However, critics say nuclear power is not risk-free and produces long-lasting radioactive waste. Regardless, many are optimistic that Google’s nuclear reactors project in powering its AI centers is the right step.
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