Google has signed what it calls the world's first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs), developed by Kairos Power, to generate the vast amounts of energy needed to support its artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. According to Google, this deal is part of its ongoing efforts to accelerate clean energy solutions and meet its ambitious 24/7 carbon-free energy goals.
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Nuclear Energy in Powering AI Technologies
The company says the agreement aims to bring Kairos Power's first SMR online quickly and safely by 2030, with additional reactor deployments planned through 2035. These reactors will contribute up to 500 MW of new 24/7 carbon-free power to the US electricity grid, helping to meet the growing energy demands of AI technologies and drive national competitiveness.
Under the agreement, Kairos Power will develop, construct, and operate a series of advanced reactor plants and sell energy, ancillary services, and environmental attributes to Google under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Plants will be sited in relevant service territories to supply clean electricity to Google data centers.
"The grid needs new electricity sources to support AI technologies," said Michael Terrell, senior director for energy and climate at Google. "This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone."
Kairos Power's Reactor Design
Kairos Power's technology uses a molten-salt cooling system combined with ceramic, pebble-type fuel to efficiently transport heat to a steam turbine for power generation. This passively safe system allows the reactor to operate at low pressure, enabling a simpler, more affordable nuclear reactor design, Google said.
This summer, Kairos Power broke ground on its Hermes non-powered demonstration reactor in Tennessee, the first US advanced reactor project to receive a construction permit from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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Clean Energy for Google's AI Needs
Another reason Google cited for the agreement is that nuclear solutions offer a clean, round-the-clock power source that can help the company reliably meet electricity demands with carbon-free energy every hour of every day.
The companies did not disclose any details about how much the deal is worth.
