Google partners with Kairos for nuclear energy via SMR

Google announces a nuclear energy purchase agreement with the startup Kairos Power, utilizing small modular reactors (SMR) to meet its growing electricity needs.

Share:

Google has officially announced its intention to purchase nuclear energy from the American startup Kairos Power. This partnership aims to provide energy through small modular reactors (SMR), an innovative technology in the nuclear sector. The agreement, revealed this Monday, marks an important step for Google in its quest for sustainable and reliable energy sources.

The contract plans for the first SMR from Kairos to be operational by 2030, with a gradual ramp-up until 2035. This initiative aims to address the exponential energy needs of Alphabet’s subsidiary, the parent company of Google. However, Google has not disclosed the financial details of this transaction, keeping those details confidential.

Increasing Energy Demand in Cloud Computing

The rise of remote computing, also known as cloud computing, has significantly increased the energy consumption of major players in the sector such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. This increase is primarily due to the intensive use of server storage centers, or data centers, which require a large amount of electricity to operate optimally.

These data centers have become even more crucial with the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI requires massive amounts of data and large quantities of semiconductors to process and exploit that information. To ensure sufficient electricity supply, major cloud players are turning to renewable energy providers, including the nuclear sector.

Strategic Partnerships in the Nuclear Sector

At the end of September, Microsoft announced a partnership with Constellation Energy, an American energy group, aiming to reactivate a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. This plant was the site of a major nuclear incident in 1979, leading to the permanent shutdown of the second reactor. The reopening of this reactor demonstrates the growing interest of large technology companies in modern and safer nuclear energy sources.

SMRs, such as Kairos’s Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR), represent a new generation of nuclear reactors. Currently, no SMR is operational in the United States, although their design promises a less costly and more flexible energy production compared to traditional nuclear power plants. These reactors are designed to be manufactured in factories, reducing construction times and associated costs.

Challenges and Prospects of SMRs

The development of SMR prototypes requires significant investment, which poses a major challenge for startups in the sector. Despite these high initial costs, SMRs are seen as a viable long-term solution for providing clean and reliable energy. Unlike conventional reactors, SMRs are modular and can be produced in factories, thereby reducing construction timelines and costs.

Another startup, NuScale Power, was the first to have its SMR approved by U.S. regulators. However, its most advanced project, located in Idaho, was canceled at the end of 2023, highlighting the challenges faced by companies in this field. Despite these obstacles, Kairos Power received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at the end of 2023 to begin construction of its first experimental reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with commissioning planned for 2027.

Implications for the Energy Sector

The adoption of SMRs by companies like Google could transform the energy landscape by offering a more flexible and potentially less expensive alternative to traditional nuclear power plants. This transition to modular energy sources could also stimulate innovation in the sector and encourage other companies to explore similar partnerships.

Furthermore, the commitment of major technology companies to the development of nuclear energy could accelerate research and the development of safer and more efficient technologies. This could also enhance energy resilience by diversifying supply sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Bahrain has concluded a civil nuclear agreement with the United States and formalised a commitment of $17bn in public investments in the US market, further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Kairos Power has installed the vessel for its third test prototype in Oak Ridge, aiming to validate manufacturing methods for its future Hermes reactor supported by the US Department of Energy.
London and Prague formalise a strategic partnership to develop the nuclear sector, focusing on small modular reactors and industrial cooperation on supply chains.
Experts have broadly approved France’s Cigéo deep nuclear waste repository project, highlighting technical uncertainties that demand stronger guarantees for long-term safety.
Uzbekistan advances its nuclear project by signing a protocol with Hungary for the supply and local assembly of dry cooling systems, expanding its industrial partnerships in the region.
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe is asking the European Commission to review its $49bn investment to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant, a step required under the Euratom Treaty before any construction permit can be issued.
The International Atomic Energy Agency mission completed on July 11 warns that the National Nuclear Safety Administration must hire staff to oversee a fleet of 59 reactors in operation and 32 more under construction.
Energoatom signed strategic agreements with Westinghouse and Holtec at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, aiming to establish nuclear fuel production and small modular reactor capabilities in the country.
Tehran agrees to reopen its nuclear facilities to the IAEA, aiming to resume negotiations with Washington, while Moscow pushes for a “zero enrichment” agreement without getting involved in supervision.
TerraPower has selected three new American suppliers for its advanced Natrium nuclear reactor, confirming progress on the project located in Kemmerer, Wyoming, intended to replace a retiring coal-fired power plant.
Energy Exploration Technologies acquires Daytona Lithium, an Australian subsidiary of Pantera Lithium, for AUD40mn ($27mn), bringing its strategic lithium basin footprint in Smackover, USA to nearly 50,000 acres.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has identified no major barriers to licensing the ARC-100 reactor, announces ARC Clean Technology.
SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. formalizes its collaboration with UrAmerica Ltd. to strengthen Argentina’s uranium supply, aiming to secure future nuclear fuel supply chains for the U.S. market.
American companies SHINE Technologies and Standard Nuclear partner to recycle uranium and plutonium, supplying advanced fuel to the nuclear reactor sector and enhancing the national energy security of the United States.