Google’s first nuclear reactor site to power data centres announced

Google’s first nuclear reactor site to power data centres announced


Google has announced the site of its first nuclear reactor, marking a significant step in the company’s venture into nuclear power. The Hermes 2 plant, a small modular reactor (SMR) from startup Kairos Power, will be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This is part of a long-term purchase agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to supply power for Google’s data centre.

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The deal, which was the first of its kind for a private corporation to purchase nuclear power from SMRs, is a multi-stage project. The initial Hermes 2 plant will provide 50 megawatts of power, with operations scheduled to begin in 2030. This is just the first step in a larger agreement that aims to reach its full 500-megawatt potential by 2035, with multiple SMRs providing power to Google’s data centres in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama.

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According to TVA CEO Don Moul, the partnership with Google is a crucial development for the energy sector. “Nuclear is the bedrock of the future of energy security,” he said in a statement. Moul noted that Google’s financial support helps mitigate the costs and risks associated with developing new nuclear technology, preventing those burdens from being passed on to TVA’s customers. The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but the collaboration signals a growing trend of tech companies investing in clean energy to power their expanding data centre operations.