Nvidia Invests in Nuclear Startup TerraPower to Power AI's Growing Energy Demands
8 Sources
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Nvidia goes nuclear -- company joins Bill Gates in backing TerraPower, a company building nuclear reactors for powering data centers
Nvidia, through its venture capital arm NVentures, has joined Bill Gates and HD Hyundai in raising $650 million to back TerraPower, Gates' nuclear power startup founded in 2006 that's been working on small modular reactor (SMR) technology to standardize, miniaturize, and scale nuclear power. The
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Nvidia bets on Gates-backed TerraPower micronuclear provider
$650M funding round aims to bring TerraPower's Natrium power plant in Wyoming online by 2030 Datacenter operators' desire for cheap and clean energy to power their facilities has led to renewed interest in nuclear energy and small modular reactors (SMRs) - a tech Nvidia has just decided is worthy
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Tech-backed nuclear groups raise $1bn as investors bet on power-hungry AI
Two companies backed by Bill Gates and Sam Altman have raised more than $1bn amid a surge in investor optimism that nuclear energy will help power the artificial intelligence revolution. TerraPower, a private company founded by Gates, said on Wednesday it had raised $650mn from investors,
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TerraPower lands $650M from NVIDIA's investment fund, Bill Gates and others
The round includes new investor NVentures, the venture capital arm of leading computer chip maker NVIDIA, as well as current investors Bill Gates, who helped found the company, and HD Hyundai, which builds ships. While clean energy technologies such as wind, solar and batteries have taken a
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Nvidia joins Gates-backed nuclear startup to power AI's energy needs
The chip designer's venture arm, NVentures, participated in a $650 million funding round, joining co-investors including Gates and industrial conglomerate HD Hyundai to support developing advanced small modular reactors (SMRs). The investment comes as the technology industry confronts data
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Bill Gates-Founded Nuclear Energy Startup Raises $650M From Nvidia's VC Arm, Others
Bellevue, Washington-based TerraPower has now raised $1.4 billion from investors, per Crunchbase data, making it one of the most well-funded startups working on nuclear-related technologies. The company was founded in 2006 by Gates and other climate-focused investors. It is in the midst of
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NVIDIA backs TerraPower and its small modular nuclear reactors for data centers
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to you. NVentures, NVIDIA's venture capital and investment arm, is included in TerraPower's latest $650 million fundraise. Joining TerraPower founder Bill
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Bill Gates Lands Nvidia As Partner In $650 Million Nuclear Push To Power AI Revolution - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Nvidia Corporation's NVDA venture capital arm, NVentures, has joined a $650 million funding round for TerraPower, a nuclear energy company founded by Microsoft Corporation MSFT co-founder Bill Gates. What Happened: The investment also includes participation from HD Hyundai and aims to bring
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Nvidia's venture arm, NVentures, joins Bill Gates and others in a $650 million funding round for TerraPower, a nuclear reactor startup, as tech giants seek sustainable energy solutions for power-hungry AI data centers.
Nvidia Joins Nuclear Energy Investment Race
Nvidia, through its venture capital arm NVentures, has made a significant move into the nuclear energy sector by participating in a $650 million funding round for TerraPower, a nuclear reactor startup founded by Bill Gates in 2006
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. This investment marks Nvidia's entry into the growing trend of tech giants seeking sustainable energy solutions to power the rapidly expanding AI industry.TerraPower's Innovative Nuclear Technology
Source: Interesting Engineering
TerraPower is developing advanced small modular reactor (SMR) technology, with its flagship project being the 345-megawatt Natrium plant in Wyoming
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. The plant utilizes innovative cooling methods, including liquid sodium for reactor cooling and molten salt for heat storage, allowing it to store up to one gigawatt of excess heat for later use1
. This project is part of the Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, aimed at promoting next-generation clean energy sources1
.Tech Giants' Nuclear Energy Rush
Nvidia's investment in TerraPower is part of a broader trend among tech companies investing in nuclear power to meet the growing energy demands of AI data centers:
- Oracle has secured permits for three SMRs totaling one gigawatt for its AI data centers
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. - Microsoft plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor
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. - Google has signed a deal with Kairos for seven SMRs
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. - Amazon is investing in three energy companies, two of which work with nuclear reactors
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. - Meta has recently opened its doors to nuclear solutions
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The AI Energy Challenge
Source: The Register
The surge in interest in nuclear energy is driven by the exponential growth in power consumption by AI data centers. AMD has revealed that zettascale supercomputers could require up to half a gigawatt to operate, equivalent to powering 375,000 homes
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. This increasing demand has led tech companies to explore alternative energy sources to ensure a stable and sustainable power supply for their operations.Regulatory Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite the enthusiasm, TerraPower's Natrium plant faces regulatory hurdles. The company does not expect to receive approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission until 2026 and aims to start power production by 2030
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. This timeline highlights the long-term nature of investments in nuclear energy technology.Related Stories
Investment Landscape and Market Optimism
Source: GeekWire
The recent investments in nuclear energy startups reflect growing market optimism. TerraPower has raised over $2 billion in private financing and secured a $2 billion grant from the U.S. government
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. Similarly, Oklo, another nuclear startup backed by Sam Altman, recently raised $460 million3
. These investments are driven by projections of significant increases in electricity demand, with the U.S. expected to see a 25% rise by 2050 compared to 2023 levels3
.Challenges and Skepticism
Despite the enthusiasm, some experts remain skeptical about the economic viability of SMRs. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis has argued that SMRs are "too expensive, too slow to build, and too risky" to play a significant role in the transition away from fossil fuels
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. The recent abandonment of an SMR project by NuScale due to increased costs further highlights the challenges faced by the industry2
.As the race to power AI's future intensifies, the collaboration between tech giants like Nvidia and nuclear energy innovators like TerraPower represents a significant shift in the energy landscape. The success of these ventures could reshape the future of both the AI and energy sectors, but significant technological, regulatory, and economic hurdles remain to be overcome.
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