In a move that mirrors Google’s recent announcement, Amazon has joined the race to harness nuclear energy, specifically targeting the growing energy demands of its expanding data centers. The company has signed three agreements to support the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), which are touted as a cleaner, more efficient alternative for powering the increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Amazon’s decision to invest in nuclear energy is a direct response to the exponential growth in energy demand fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. These facilities, which house the complex algorithms and massive computing power that drive AI, require immense amounts of energy to operate.
Amazon’s first partnership is with Energy Northwest, a company focused on developing four advanced SMRs capable of generating approximately 320 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 770,000 US homes. This project will utilize X-energy’s advanced SMR reactor design, a company specializing in SMR technology and fuel.
In addition, Amazon has signed an agreement with Dominion Energy to implement an SMR project near Dominion’s existing North Anna nuclear power station in Virginia. This project aims to add another 300 megawatts of power to the region, further bolstering its energy capacity.
The selected regions for these projects are expected to experience a surge in energy demand over the next 15 years. Notably, Virginia’s energy demand is projected to increase by a staggering 85% by 2029. Amazon’s investment in SMRs highlights the company’s commitment to securing a reliable and sustainable energy source to power its burgeoning data center operations.
The move by both Amazon and Google underscores the increasing pressure on tech giants to address their environmental impact. Nuclear energy, with its potential for large-scale, clean energy production, appears to be a key solution for these companies as they grapple with the escalating energy demands of their AI-driven operations.