Google has recently announced a partnership with energy company Kairos Powers. The deal will see the tech company buy nuclear energy to power artificial intelligence development. “Today, we’re building on these efforts by signing the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) to be developed by Kairos Power”, the company confirmed in a blog post.
Kairos Powers is a nuclear energy company based in California, USA. As part of the agreement, the company will build Google multiple small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors utilize a molten-salt cooling system and graphite-pebble fuel to transport heat to a steam turbine, generating electrical energy. The first of these reactors is planned to be online by 2030 with the rest set to be active by 2035.
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The recent advancement in generative AI technology has caused a surge in electricity demand. Other tech companies such as Microsoft have also turned to nuclear as a solution for a clean, round-the-clock power source. Google hopes this project will allow 24/7 carbon-free energy to further its AI technologies and data centers.
Speaking on the impact this deal can have on AI, Michael Terrell, senior director of Energy and Climate at Google, said, “The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies that are powering major scientific advances. This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone”.
Google has not disclosed the location of the power plants or the financial details of the agreement.
