AI Meets Nuclear: Google Secures Energy Deal with Kairos Power

AFP

Islamabad: Google announced a significant agreement to purchase electricity from small nuclear reactors developed by Kairos Power, a move aimed at supporting the energy demands of artificial intelligence technologies.

This deal comes shortly after the announcement that Three Mile Island, the site of the most severe nuclear accident in US history, will resume operations to supply energy to Microsoft.

During a briefing, Google’s senior director of energy and climate emphasized the crucial role of nuclear energy in achieving clean growth and meeting the escalating energy requirements of AI. 

“The grid needs these kinds of clean, reliable sources of energy that can support the build-out of these technologies,” he stated.

While financial specifics of the deal were not disclosed, the initial small modular reactor (SMR) under this partnership is expected to be operational by the end of the decade, with additional reactors slated to be online by 2035, generating a total of 500 megawatts of power.

SMRs are designed to be more compact and easier to deploy, receiving significant investments from figures like Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

However, this technology is still in early development and lacks regulatory approval, prompting companies to look for existing nuclear power solutions.

Kairos co-founder Mike Laufer described the partnership as a “really significant” opportunity, allowing for the maturation and learning of SMR technology.

Google’s commitment to nuclear power is part of a broader initiative to ensure a stable supply of carbon-free energy around the clock.

As AI’s capabilities expand, the need for new, clean electricity sources becomes increasingly urgent.

The company sees this collaboration as a promising step towards global scaling of nuclear energy solutions, which could greatly benefit communities and power grids worldwide.