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Google has taken a bold step towards a sustainable future by signing a deal with Kairos Power to use small nuclear reactors (SMRs) for powering AI data centers.

The tech giant aims to generate vast amounts of energy through nuclear power, starting this decade, with plans to bring more reactors online by 2035.

First-of-its-Kind Agreement

On Monday, Google announced that it would partner with Kairos Power to build seven small nuclear reactors in the U.S.

This is the first-ever corporate deal to purchase nuclear power generated by SMRs, marking a significant shift in how technology companies are fueling their data centers.

This initiative is expected to add 500 megawatts of nuclear power by 2030, with the first reactor projected to be operational that same year. The remaining reactors will be rolled out by 2035. 

SMRs are smaller and more cost-effective than traditional reactors, with components manufactured in factories rather than constructed on-site. This streamlined process reduces construction costs and accelerates deployment.

Kairos Power is awaiting approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to begin construction.

The company has already received the green light to build a demonstration reactor in Tennessee, scheduled to go online by 2027.

They are also conducting tests at their facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to ensure that the reactors will meet safety and efficiency standards.

Powering AI with Nuclear Energy

Google’s move is part of a broader trend of tech companies turning to nuclear power to meet the immense energy demands of AI.

In September, Microsoft signed a deal with Constellation Energy to bring a reactor at the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania back online. 

Similarly, Amazon purchased a nuclear-powered data center from Talen Energy in March, although the deal is facing regulatory scrutiny due to concerns over rising public power costs.