Amazon unveiled a major investment strategy in the nuclear energy sector on Wednesday, aligning with other leading technology companies to investigate the use of atomic energy for satisfying the substantial power requirements of artificial intelligence.
As technology giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google continue to expand their global data center capacities, they are actively seeking new power sources to ensure stable operations. In this context, Amazon has signed partnerships with three entities aimed at advancing the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These new reactors are more compact compared to traditional reactors, potentially allowing for easier deployment.
Although SMR technology is still in its early stages and has yet to receive regulatory approval, Amazon remains optimistic about its potential. Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, stated, "One of the quickest ways to address climate change is by steering society towards carbon-free energy. Nuclear energy offers zero carbon emissions and can be scaled up, making it a significant investment area for Amazon."
Amazon's new partnerships span various initiatives. One collaboration with Energy Northwest involves developing four advanced SMRs in Washington State, expected to generate up to 960 megawatts of power by early 2030. Additionally, Amazon has participated in X-energy's $500 million fundraising effort; X-energy is a leading SMR developer, and this capital raise aims to support over 5 gigawatts of new nuclear projects.
Simultaneously, Amazon has partnered with Dominion Energy to explore the feasibility of implementing SMR projects near the North Anna nuclear power plant in Virginia, aiming to add at least 300 megawatts of power to meet the region's projected demand increase. As data centers continue to expand, the northern Virginia area, a crucial global internet hub, is experiencing unprecedented growth in electricity demand. Although Dominion Energy has pledged to decarbonize the state's power grid by 2045, the escalating power needs may still necessitate the establishment of new natural gas power plants.
However, generating power with fossil fuels to meet the growing demands of data centers contradicts the environmental objectives of major technology companies. These companies claim to provide artificial intelligence energy solutions without compromising their green reputations. Consequently, Google recently entered into an SMR power agreement with Kairos Power, and Microsoft plans to utilize electricity from the restarted Three Mile Island nuclear plant to meet its energy requirements.
Moreover, Amazon announced a significant initiative to establish a data center adjacent to a 40-year-old nuclear facility in Pennsylvania. This move further underscores Amazon's commitment to investing in the nuclear energy sector.
According to data from Goldman Sachs, data center power demand is projected to increase by 160% by 2030, with artificial intelligence accounting for approximately 19% of this demand by 2028. This trend indicates that as artificial intelligence technology continues to advance, the pursuit of high power demands will drive technology companies to explore and invest further in new energy sources such as nuclear power.
