Equinix Embraces Nuclear Power for AI-Driven Data Centers

Equinix signs nuke deals to power its datacenters

Equinix is doing deals with alternative energy providers to support the needs of its datacenters globally, including nuclear options and fuel cell deployments, as the AI fad continues to push a bit barn build boom. As one of the largest datacenter operators in the world, Equinix says it is working with firms developing reliable and sustainable electricity generation technology as part of its diversified portfolio power strategy, in a bid to side-step potential power constraints in the future. The agreements announced on Thursday comprise four with nuclear companies, and one providing solid-oxide fuel cells. The nuclear ones are not likely to deliver for several years, since the technologies are still under development in some cases. Nevertheless, Equinix says it sees nuclear energy as "a promising solution" to help power both datacenters and the broader grid. Two of the firms it has partnered with here - Oklo and Radiant Industries - are also part of the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, aimed at developing new advanced reactors. With Oklo, Equinix has signed an agreement to procure 500 MW of energy from the company's so-called Aurora powerhouses, which are designed to look like small domestic dwellings. Oklo says it expects to deploy its first commercial advanced reactor in the US before the end of the decade. In the case of Radiant, Equinix has a preorder agreement for the purchase of 20 of that company's Kaleidos microreactors, which are small enough to fit on a trailer and provide 1 MW of energy. The company recently inked a deal to kit out a US military base with the devices by 2028. ULC-Energy is a Netherlands company, and it has signed a Letter of Intent with Equinix for a power purchase agreement (PPA) of up to 250 MW to power its datacenters in the country. The firm says it is the Dutch developer of the Rolls-Royce SMR (small modular reactor), a design set to be deployed in the UK by Great British Nuclear. Equinix likewise has a preorder power agreement for 500 MW with Stellaria, a start-up founded by Schneider-Electric and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). It is aiming for first fission by 2029 and production by 2035. In the case of solid-oxide fuel cells, the firm says it has an agreement with Bloom Energy for a deployment of more than 100 MW worth of these at over 19 datacenters in six US states to provide onsite power generation. We asked Equinix if this was to provide primary power or to serve as a backup power source, and will let you know if we get an answer. Backup power is the typical application for fuel cells in datacenters, as a "greener" replacement for diesel generators, although projects in Japan and Ireland have declared an intention to develop bit barn campuses powered largely or entirely by them. "As energy demand increases, we believe we have an opportunity and responsibility to support the development of reliable, sustainable, scalable energy infrastructure that can support our collective future," said Equinix EVP of Global Operations Raouf Abdel. "By working with our energy partners, we believe we can support the energy needs of our customers and communities around the world by helping to strengthen the grid and investing in new energy sources." ®

Equinix enters into multiple advanced nuclear deals to power data centers

NEW YORK, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Major data center developer and operator Equinix (EQIX.O), opens new tab has entered into several advanced nuclear electricity deals, including power purchase agreements for fission energy and pre-ordering microreactors for its operations, the company said on Thursday. Big Tech's race to expand technologies like generative artificial intelligence, which requires warehouse-like data centers that can require city-sized amounts of electricity at a single site, is driving up global energy consumption and raising fears about depleted power supplies. The voracious energy needs of data centers has led to a rising number of preliminary power deals to fuel data centers with advanced nuclear energy. Small modular reactors and other next-generation energy is not yet commercially available in the U.S., the world's data center hub. The Equinix announcement follows news that the U.S. Department of Energy earlier had selected an initial 11 projects for a pilot program seeking to develop high-tech test nuclear reactors with the aim of getting three of the projects operating in less than a year. Equinix's deals with advanced nuclear providers would supply more than 1 gigawatt of electricity to the company's data centers. Among the agreements, Equinix plans to procure 500 megawatts of energy from California-based Oklo's next-generation nuclear fission powerhouses. It also entered into a preorder agreement for 20 transportable microreactors from Radiant Nuclear, which is also based in California. In Europe, Equinix's agreements to eventually purchase power from next-generation nuclear developers, ULC-Energy and Stellaria. Equinix also entered into advanced fuel cell agreements with Bloom Energy, based in Silicon Valley. The agreements are part of Equinix's long-term planning for electricity to use for its data centers, as opposed to a quick-fix solution, Raouf Abdel, Equinix's executive vice president of global operations, told Reuters. Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Betting on Small Modular Reactors to power AI-driven data growth

Global data center operator has taken a remarkable step toward securing long-term, low-carbon energy for its Dutch operations. It signed a Letter of Intent with -based nuclear developer ULC-Energy for a power purchase agreement (PPA) of up to 250 MWe. The electricity will come from Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), a new generation of nuclear power technology that promises steady, zero-emission baseload power in a more flexible format than traditional reactors. ULC-Energy, which in 2022 selected as its preferred technology provider, is developing plans to deploy 470 MWe light water SMRs in . Rolls-Royce's SMR program, backed by government funding, has been gaining momentum. In June, it was named the preferred bidder to partner with Great British Energy Nuclear to deliver the UK's first SMR projects. Meeting the AI power challenge The agreement with marks the first time a global data center company has directly partnered with an SMR provider. For , the motivation is clear: the energy demands of artificial intelligence are pushing the limits of existing grids and renewable generation capacity. "The potential challenges to powering reliable and sustainable digital infrastructure are considerable," said , Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at . "Equinix has always been at the forefront of energy innovation, signing the data center industry's first agreement with an SMR provider and pioneering the use of fuel cells a decade ago. Powering AI infrastructure responsibly is a global priority." AI workloads require large-scale, continuous power, something intermittent renewables like solar and wind cannot guarantee without substantial storage. Nuclear, with its high capacity factor and predictable output, is increasingly being discussed as a complement to renewables in Europe's energy mix, especially as the continent works to decarbonize while electrifying transport, industry, and computing. has historically had only limited nuclear capacity, with a single operating reactor in Borssele. But policy sentiment has shifted in recent years. The Dutch government now supports building two large reactors and is open to SMR deployment, seeing them as a way to diversify the country's low-carbon baseload options. Equinix's deal with ULC-Energy could serve as a high-profile proof of concept, demonstrating that SMRs can directly power large industrial consumers - in this case, data centers - without adding strain to public electricity grids. This aligns with broader European conversations. , , and the are all advancing SMR projects, while the EU taxonomy now officially includes nuclear as a sustainable investment category. However, challenges remain: SMRs must still navigate regulatory approval, secure financing, and prove their cost-competitiveness in real-world deployment. Aiming for 100% already operates 250 sites worldwide on 100% renewable energy and has achieved 96% clean energy coverage across its global portfolio. The company has committed to reaching 100% clean and renewable energy globally by 2030. Nuclear could be a key piece of that puzzle; not replacing renewables, but reinforcing them. If ULC-Energy and succeed in delivering their Dutch project on schedule, could be among the first major corporate buyers of SMR electricity in . For AI infrastructure, which analysts warn could double or triple data center energy use this decade, securing such a long-term, stable, zero-carbon supply could become a competitive advantage. "With Equinix's operational expertise, trusted supply chain, and close partnerships with the and global governments and utilities, we are poised to deliver safe, secure, and reliable AI solutions for our customers and the communities we serve," Ruckteschler added. For now, the deal remains at the Letter of Intent stage, with final contracts, regulatory approvals, and construction timelines still ahead. But if realized, it would mark a milestone in marrying Europe's AI ambitions with its climate goals -- powered by a new generation of nuclear technology.