Google invests in nuclear power with Elementl Power to fuel AI energy needs
The collaboration will see Google invest in projects expected to generate 600 megawatts of power each, reports AP
Tech giant Google has teamed up with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear energy sites, as the demand for electricity driven by artificial intelligence continues to surge.
Announced yesterday (7 May), the collaboration will see Google invest in projects expected to generate 600 megawatts of power each, reports AP.
Although the total investment amount was not disclosed, the partnership underscores the growing role of nuclear energy in supporting AI-driven infrastructure.
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"Our collaboration with Elementl Power enhances our ability to move at the speed required to meet this moment of AI and American innovation," said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's head of data centre energy.
The two companies plan to work closely with utility providers and regulated power firms to identify and develop additional nuclear energy projects.
"We look forward to working with Google to execute these projects and bring safe, carbon-free, baseload electricity to the grid," said Chris Colbert, Chairman and CEO of Elementl Power.
As AI technology evolves and expands, so too does its appetite for power, prompting states across the US to position themselves as energy hubs for the tech industry. Policymakers are increasingly backing nuclear energy initiatives, offering incentives and easing regulations to attract investment.
In 2023, 25 US states passed laws promoting advanced nuclear power, while more than 200 pro-nuclear bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Amid growing interest in carbon-free, reliable electricity, tech companies are investing in next-generation nuclear technologies. Amazon revealed in October that it would support small modular reactors, just days after a similar announcement from Google.
In another notable development, Constellation Energy — owner of the defunct Three Mile Island nuclear facility — said in September that it aimed to restart the plant to supply electricity to Microsoft's data centres. The site, located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was the scene of the United States' most serious nuclear accident in 1979.
In addition to nuclear, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have been actively funding wind and solar energy projects to diversify their low-emission power sources.
Elementl Power was established in 2022.
