Google has recently made a groundbreaking commitment to support the construction of seven small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in the United States, in collaboration with the innovative nuclear energy company, Kairos Power. This move is part of Google’s strategy to meet the growing energy demands of its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives.

On October 14, Google announced that it has agreed to purchase the electricity generated by these seven reactors. The deal aims to add 500 megawatts of nuclear energy by the end of this decade, which will assist Kairos Power in bringing its first commercial reactor online by 2030, with plans to expand the number of reactors by 2035.

This agreement marks a significant milestone as it lays the groundwork for the commercialization of small modular reactors in the U.S. Many believe that SMR technology represents the future of the nuclear energy sector, enabling faster construction and reduced costs through the deployment of multiple smaller reactors instead of large nuclear power plants.

Tyrell, Google’s senior director of energy and climate, emphasized the pivotal role of nuclear energy in fulfilling Google’s clean energy requirements. “We believe that to achieve our goals for round-the-clock clean energy, it’s essential to incorporate technologies that can compensate for fluctuations in wind and solar energy, as well as lithium-ion storage,” he stated.

When asked whether these reactors would connect to the grid or directly supply power to data centers, Tyrell mentioned that Google is exploring various options.

Neither Google nor Kairos Power disclosed the financial details of the agreement, nor did they clarify whether Google would fund the construction of the SMRs or simply pay for the electricity once the reactors are operational.

The fate of the nuclear power industry is increasingly intertwined with major technology firms. Just last month, Microsoft announced its commitment to purchase 20 years of electricity from the Three Mile Island nuclear plant if Constellation Energy can successfully restart it. Earlier this year, Amazon acquired a data center located near a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. This trend highlights the growing interest among tech companies in nuclear energy as a medium-term solution for providing low-carbon electricity to meet their data center energy demands.

The agreement between Google and Kairos signifies a landmark transaction in which a major tech firm is committing to the construction of nuclear power plants. Over the past two decades, only three nuclear reactors have come online in the U.S. Currently, nearly 20% of the country’s electricity comes from nuclear power, but high costs and lengthy construction times have stalled new major projects.

Based in Alameda, California, Kairos Power has developed a reactor design that uses molten fluoride salt for cooling, replacing traditional water-based systems. Last December, the company received construction approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a 50 megawatt demonstration reactor in Tennessee, which is expected to begin operations in 2027.