Google Partners with TVA and Kairos Power for Advanced Nuclear Reactor to Power Data Centers

Google announced the next step in its nuclear energy plans

Google is one step closer to reaching its nuclear ambitions now that it's working with public power utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to purchase electricity from a next-generation reactor. It's the first power purchase agreement for technology this advanced that a US utility has made, according to the companies. The plan is for TVA to buy electricity from a reactor being developed by engineering company Kairos Power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Once the reactor is up and running, expected in 2030, it should start supplying electricity to the local grid that serves Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. If they manage to pull this all off, it could help jumpstart a whole new era for nuclear energy in the US. The nation's current fleet of nuclear reactors uses decades-old technology that has struggled to compete with cheap electricity from gas-fired power plants and solar and wind farms. Kairos Power is building one of the first reactors that proponents hope can usher in a resurgence of nuclear energy, and meet rising electricity demand from Big Tech and AI. The announcement follows news that Google would purchase electricity from "multiple" small modular reactors designed by Kairos Power. The Hermes 2 demonstration plant is the first reactor being developed under that agreement. It expands on the first Hermes demonstration reactor that Kairos broke ground on in July of last year after receiving the first construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a non-water-cooled reactor in more than half a century. Unlike conventional reactors that use water, Kairos' technology uses molten fluoride salt as a coolant. Since the reactor's molten salt coolant has a much higher boiling point than water and doesn't reach a boil, the reactor can operate at relatively low pressure. A low-pressure reactor like Kairos' technology is supposed to cut costs for nuclear energy by getting rid of the need to build big high-pressure containment structures. Oak Ridge, Tennessee -- where Kairos is building Hermes 2 -- was once the headquarters for the Manhattan Project. Now, instead of housing facilities enriching uranium for the first atomic bombs, Oak Ridge has become a hub for nuclear energy projects and research. Eventually, Google aims to help Kairos deploy 500 megawatts of new nuclear capacity in the US by 2035. For context, America's 94 operating nuclear reactors had a combined capacity of 97,000MW in 2024 and accounted for just under 20 percent of the US electricity mix. Hermes 2 is supposed to reach a capacity of 50MW. Companies that generate carbon pollution-free electricity, like nuclear energy and renewables, can make money by selling the electricity they provide to the power grid and by selling so-called clean energy attributes that are like separate certificates representing the environmental benefits of avoiding fossil fuel emissions. Google will receive clean energy attributes from the Hermes 2 plant through TVA. Tech companies with climate goals often buy clean energy attributes to try to cancel out the pollution caused by their electricity use. By matching its electricity use with those certificates, a company might claim that it runs on clean energy even if it's plugged into a power grid that still runs on dirty energy. Extra income from clean energy attributes is supposed to help developers add more carbon pollution-free power to the grid (although research has shown that the environmental benefits are often overestimated). Google's carbon emissions rose again last year as it ramps up its AI offerings.

Google announces Tennessee as site for small modular nuclear reactor

NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, with Kairos Power, has selected Tennessee as the site of an advanced nuclear power plant that is expected to supply electricity to the Big Tech company's data centers in the U.S. southeast starting in 2030, the companies said on Monday. WHY IT MATTERS Big Tech is requiring massive amounts of electricity to scale up technologies like generative artificial intelligence in energy-intensive data centers. Those record energy needs are driving U.S. power consumption to new highs and propelling the development of fresh power sources like next-generation nuclear, opens new tab energy. The Tennessee reactor is the first to be deployed as part of Google's corporate agreement, announced last year, to buy nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors. The deal would support 500 megawatts of advanced nuclear capacity, which is enough to power about 350,000 homes, to be developed by California-based nuclear company Kairos. The 50-gigawatt small modular nuclear power plant will be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a long-term power purchase agreement with utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVC.N), opens new tab, to deliver electricity to Google data centers locally and in the state of Alabama. KEY QUOTE "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system," said Google's Amanda Peterson Corio. The project marks the first time a U.S. utility has signed a power purchase agreement for so-called generation IV nuclear power, which is generally seen as the most sustainable and safe form of nuclear power technologies in development, the companies said. ENERGY SECRETARY WEIGHS IN "The deployment of advanced nuclear reactors is essential to U.S. AI dominance and energy leadership," U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement announcing the site selection. "The Department of Energy has assisted Kairos Power with overcoming technical, operational, and regulatory challenges as a participant in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and DOE will continue to help accelerate the next American nuclear renaissance." Currently, there are no commercially available advanced nuclear power plants in the U.S. Reporting by Laila Kearney Editing by Marguerita Choy Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Utility to buy power from advanced nuclear plant to power Tennessee and Alabama Google data centers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The nation's largest public utility plans to buy power from an upcoming advanced nuclear plant to help fuel Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, according to a deal announced Monday. The Tennessee Valley Authority, California-based Kairos Power and Google say the agreement will deliver up to 50 megawatts of energy to the federal utility's grid that powers the data centers. The announcement comes at a time when tech companies expect to require a massive amount of power to fuel data centers behind artificial intelligence, and some of them have been especially interested in new nuclear production. President Donald Trump released a plan last month to boost AI and build data centers across the U.S. and in May signed executive orders aimed at boosting nuclear power. TVA says it is the first U.S. utility to sign a power purchase agreement to buy electricity from a next-generation nuclear reactor. It would rely on the Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2030. The agreement will power data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama, and support future growth in the region, the news release said. Google will receive clean energy credits associated with the plant. "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system," Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said in the news release. Hermes 2 is the first reactor under a deal between Kairos Power and Google to bring on 500 megawatts of new, advanced nuclear power production to help cover the tech giant's increased demand for electricity. The new kind of nuclear reactor uses fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology. It uses molten salt as a coolant. Another test version of the plant in Oak Ridge, named Hermes, does not produce electricity. The Hermes 2 plant received a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November. The plant still has more steps to complete, including an application for an operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Many next-generation reactors, including Kairos' Hermes 2, will use high-assay low-enriched uranium. The fuel is enriched to a higher level than traditional large nuclear reactors use, allowing the newer reactors to run longer and more efficiently, sit on smaller footprints and produce less waste, according to the Department of Energy. There's little of it made in the United States right now. But companies are investing to ramp up production, including in Oak Ridge. The Tennessee Valley Authority powers 10 million people across seven southern states.

Google signs first US Gen IV nuclear deal to power its data centers

The 50-megawatt reactor is expected to begin operations in 2030, sending power to TVA's grid and supporting Google's data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. This marks the first time a U.S. utility has committed to purchasing electricity from a Generation IV nuclear plant. For Google, it represents an early step in a longer-term collaboration with Kairos Power to unlock as much as 500 megawatts of nuclear capacity over the next decade. The Hermes 2 project also carries symbolic weight, reviving Oak Ridge's historic role as a hub for nuclear innovation. Google has steadily expanded its presence in the Tennessee Valley over the past decade and has worked closely with TVA to add clean energy to the region. With artificial intelligence workloads and cloud services driving demand for reliable electricity, the company is now betting on advanced nuclear as part of its strategy to secure 24/7 carbon-free energy. The U.S. grid is under growing strain as AI, electrification, and population growth push power demand to new highs.

Utility to buy power from advanced nuclear plant to fuel Tennessee and Alabama Google data centers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The nation's largest public utility plans to buy power from an upcoming advanced nuclear plant to help fuel Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, according to a deal announced Monday. The Tennessee Valley Authority, California-based Kairos Power and Google say the agreement will deliver up to 50 megawatts of energy to the federal utility's grid that powers the data centers. The announcement comes at a time when tech companies expect to require a massive amount of power to fuel data centers behind artificial intelligence, and some of them have been especially interested in new nuclear production. President Donald Trump released a plan last month to boost AI and build data centers across the U.S. and in May signed executive orders aimed at boosting nuclear power. TVA says it is the first U.S. utility to sign a power purchase agreement to buy electricity from a next-generation nuclear reactor. It would rely on the Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2030. The agreement will power data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama, and support future growth in the region, the news release said. Google will receive clean energy credits associated with the plant. "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system," Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said in the news release. Hermes 2 is the first reactor under a deal between Kairos Power and Google to bring on 500 megawatts of new, advanced nuclear power production to help cover the tech giant's increased demand for electricity. The new kind of nuclear reactor uses fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology. It uses molten salt as a coolant. Another test version of the plant in Oak Ridge, named Hermes, does not produce electricity. The Hermes 2 plant received a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November. The plant still has more steps to complete, including an application for an operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Many next-generation reactors, including Kairos' Hermes 2, will use high-assay low-enriched uranium. The fuel is enriched to a higher level than traditional large nuclear reactors use, allowing the newer reactors to run longer and more efficiently, sit on smaller footprints and produce less waste, according to the Department of Energy. There's little of it made in the United States right now. But companies are investing to ramp up production, including in Oak Ridge. The Tennessee Valley Authority powers 10 million people across seven southern states.

How This Google-Backed Nuclear Startup Will Supply the Grid With Power

Google-backed nuclear startup Kairos Power just inked a historic deal with a major U.S. utility to send power from its forthcoming advanced nuclear reactors to the grid in Tennessee and Alabama. The announcement follows a deal Kairos and Google struck in 2024 to expedite commercialization of its small modular reactor technology; it will help Google, which operates data centers in the region, decarbonize its operations. It also makes Tennessee Valley Authority the first utility to buy power from advanced reactors, like the kind Kairos is building. "The world is looking for American leadership, and this first-of-a-kind agreement is the start of an innovative way of doing business," Don Moul, TVA president and CEO, said in a statement. "By developing a technology, a supply chain, and a delivery model that can build an industry to unleash American energy, we can attract and support companies like Google and help America win the AI race." Per the terms of the deal, TVA will buy up to 50 megawatts of nuclear electricity from Kairos Power's planned Hermes 2 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Kairos Power's Hermes test reactor was the first reactor of its kind to receive a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2023, although it would not produce electricity. And Hermes 2 became the first electricity-producing plant of its kind to be approved for construction in Nov. 2024. The site is expected to kick off operations as soon as 2030. Google disclosed in a statement it will acquire "clean energy attributes," or certification of its clean energy use, from the facility through TVA. "To power the future, we need to grow the availability of smart, firm energy sources," Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said in a statement. "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system." Google has of several data centers in the South, including one in Montgomery County, Tennessee and one in Jackson County, Alabama. Nuclear power has become increasingly attractive as a source of reliable and carbon-free energy as the world's rising power needs converge with the pressing realities of climate change. And as big tech companies scramble to stay competitive in the AI race, they are increasingly investing in nuclear energy to supply them with the ample electricity they need to fuel power-hungry data centers. Google first announced its backing of Kairos in Oct. 2024. The tech giant agreed to buy some 500 megawatts of energy from Kairos' small modular reactors (SMRs) through 2035. It was the first deal of its kind to support commercial development of this type of nuclear reactor, which leverages modularity to cut down on the tremendous cost and time it takes to bring traditional nuclear reactors online. "This collaboration is an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy commercially competitive," Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder, said in a statement. "The re-envisioned Hermes 2 gets us closer to the commercial fleet sooner and could only be made possible by close collaboration with TVA and Google, and a supportive local community. We are excited to grow Kairos Power's operations in Oak Ridge while writing a new chapter in the region's distinguished nuclear history." Kairos isn't the only company innovating in the SMR space. Competitors include Amazon-backed XEnergy, and TerraPower, which was co-founded by Bill Gates.

Utility to Buy Power From Advanced Nuclear Plant to Power Tennessee and Alabama Google Data Centers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The nation's largest public utility plans to buy power from an upcoming advanced nuclear plant to help fuel Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, according to a deal announced Monday. The Tennessee Valley Authority, California-based Kairos Power and Google say the agreement will deliver up to 50 megawatts of energy to the federal utility's grid that powers the data centers. The announcement comes at a time when tech companies expect to require a massive amount of power to fuel data centers behind artificial intelligence, and some of them have been especially interested in new nuclear production. President Donald Trump released a plan last month to boost AI and build data centers across the U.S. and in May signed executive orders aimed at boosting nuclear power. TVA says it is the first U.S. utility to sign a power purchase agreement to buy electricity from a next-generation nuclear reactor. It would rely on the Hermes 2 reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2030. The agreement will power data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama, and support future growth in the region, the news release said. Google will receive clean energy credits associated with the plant. "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system," Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said in the news release. Hermes 2 is the first reactor under a deal between Kairos Power and Google to bring on 500 megawatts of new, advanced nuclear power production to help cover the tech giant's increased demand for electricity. The new kind of nuclear reactor uses fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology. It uses molten salt as a coolant. Another test version of the plant in Oak Ridge, named Hermes, does not produce electricity. The Hermes 2 plant received a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November. The plant still has more steps to complete, including an application for an operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Many next-generation reactors, including Kairos' Hermes 2, will use high-assay low-enriched uranium. The fuel is enriched to a higher level than traditional large nuclear reactors use, allowing the newer reactors to run longer and more efficiently, sit on smaller footprints and produce less waste, according to the Department of Energy. There's little of it made in the United States right now. But companies are investing to ramp up production, including in Oak Ridge. The Tennessee Valley Authority powers 10 million people across seven southern states.

Google announces Tennessee as site for small modular nuclear reactor - The Economic Times

Google and Kairos Power will build an advanced nuclear power plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to supply its southeastern US data centers by 2030.Google, with Kairos Power, has selected Tennessee as the site of an advanced nuclear power plant that is expected to supply electricity to the Big Tech company's data centers in the US southeast starting in 2030, the companies said on Monday. Why it matters? Big Tech is requiring massive amounts of electricity to scale up technologies like generative artificial intelligence in energy-intensive data centers. Those record energy needs are driving US power consumption to new highs and propelling the development of fresh power sources like next-generation nuclear energy. The Tennessee reactor is the first to be deployed as part of Google's corporate agreement, announced last year, to buy nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors. The deal would support 500 megawatts of advanced nuclear capacity, which is enough to power about 350,000 homes, to be developed by California-based nuclear company Kairos. The 50-gigawatt small modular nuclear power plant will be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a long-term power purchase agreement with utility Tennessee Valley Authority, to deliver electricity to Google data centers locally and in the state of Alabama. "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system," said Google's Amanda Peterson Corio. The project marks the first time a US utility has signed a power purchase agreement for so-called generation IV nuclear power, which is generally seen as the most sustainable and safe form of nuclear power technologies in development, the companies said. Energy secretary weighs in "The deployment of advanced nuclear reactors is essential to US AI dominance and energy leadership," US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement announcing the site selection. "The Department of Energy has assisted Kairos Power with overcoming technical, operational, and regulatory challenges as a participant in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and DOE will continue to help accelerate the next American nuclear renaissance." Currently, there are no commercially available advanced nuclear power plants in the US.

Google announces Tennessee as site for small modular nuclear reactor

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Google, with Kairos Power, has selected Tennessee as the site of an advanced nuclear power plant that is expected to supply electricity to the Big Tech company's data centers in the U.S. southeast starting in 2030, the companies said on Monday. WHY IT MATTERS Big Tech is requiring massive amounts of electricity to scale up technologies like generative artificial intelligence in energy-intensive data centers. Those record energy needs are driving U.S. power consumption to new highs and propelling the development of fresh power sources like next-generation nuclear energy. The Tennessee reactor is the first to be deployed as part of Google's corporate agreement, announced last year, to buy nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors. The deal would support 500 megawatts of advanced nuclear capacity, which is enough to power about 350,000 homes, to be developed by California-based nuclear company Kairos. The 50-gigawatt small modular nuclear power plant will be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a long-term power purchase agreement with utility Tennessee Valley Authority, to deliver electricity to Google data centers locally and in the state of Alabama. KEY QUOTE "This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and help support the needs of our growing digital economy while also bringing firm carbon-free energy to the electricity system," said Google's Amanda Peterson Corio. The project marks the first time a U.S. utility has signed a power purchase agreement for so-called generation IV nuclear power, which is generally seen as the most sustainable and safe form of nuclear power technologies in development, the companies said. ENERGY SECRETARY WEIGHS IN "The deployment of advanced nuclear reactors is essential to U.S. AI dominance and energy leadership," U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement announcing the site selection. "The Department of Energy has assisted Kairos Power with overcoming technical, operational, and regulatory challenges as a participant in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and DOE will continue to help accelerate the next American nuclear renaissance." Currently, there are no commercially available advanced nuclear power plants in the U.S. (Reporting by Laila KearneyEditing by Marguerita Choy)