- Google seeks to fuel cloud accommodation needs with nuclear energy
- Tennessee emerging like a hub for daring nuclear experimentation
- Data centers stimulate the demand for net power and nuclear exploration
Google concluded a collaboration with Kairos Power and Tennessee Valley Authority (VAT) to support the development of a small modular nuclear reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to supply its infrastructive expansion.
The company announced that the Hermes 2 installation should start its operations in 2030 and generate up to 50 megawatts of electricity for the VAT grid.
This will help feed Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, which are at the heart of the growing business needs for cloud accommodation, cloud storage and AI tools.
Partnership model for advanced nuclear energy
The arrangement takes the form of an electricity purchase agreement, in which TVA will buy electricity to Kairos Power and deliver the own energy attributes to Google.
Partners describe it as the first purchase of electricity from a generation IV reactor by an American public service.
Although the project only provides a fraction of the 500 megawatts that Google has described as a longer -term objective, it is considered to be proof of concept on how public services, technological companies and developers could share costs and risks in future deployments.
Unlike solar and wind, which depend on weather conditions, nuclear energy can provide continuous energy.
“Nuclear is the foundation of the future of energy security. Google involved and helping to endure the burden of the cost and risk of nuclear projects first of all … It is not only good for Google. It’s good for the 10 million VAT customers. It’s good for the United States,” said Don Moul, CEO of VAT.
However, nuclear construction has always been faced with delays and cost -effects, which raises whether this new generation of reactors will really provide an affordable and reliable power on a large scale.
The project is also presented as a way to stimulate economic activity in Oak Ridge, a city that has long been linked to nuclear research and development.
Training programs with the University of Tennessee and other local institutions are planned to prepare workers for technical roles at the Hermes 2 factory.
Although the initiative promises well -paid jobs and renewed investments, criticism may wonder whether dependence on experimental nuclear conceptions is the most effective strategy in relation to the expansion of proven renewable production.
However, this development has aroused the interest and comments of industry experts, government agencies and politicians.
“To feed the future, we must increase the availability of intelligent and firm energy sources … This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies.” said Amanda Peterson Corio, world leader in data center.
“This collaboration is an important facilitator to make the commercial energy competition advanced energy,” said Mike Laufer, CEO and co-founder of Kairos Power.
“The inheritance of Tennessee on nuclear innovation positions the voluntary state to direct the domination of American energy and stimulate continuous economic growth with safe, clean and reliable nuclear energy,” said Governor Bill Lee.
