A few months ago, Google published an annual sustainability report. It noted that their climate emissions had increased by 48% since 2019. And they are not the only ones: Amazon generates as much CO2 as Switzerland (increased by 40% since 2019), while Microsoft declares a 30% increase, also since 2019, a date that coincides with the popularization of the use of artificial intelligence. It is not strange then that cleaner alternatives are sought to feed AI. With this in mind, Google has decided invest in 7 nuclear reactors.
“We have signed the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear power from multiple small modular reactors (SMR) to be developed by Kairos Power – explains Google in a statement -. The initial phase of work aims to put into operation Kairos Power’s first SMR quickly and safely by 2030followed by the implementation of additional reactors until 2035.”
This agreement will allow them to join up to 500 MW of new carbon-free energy 24 hours a day7 days a week to US power grids and will help more communities benefit from clean, affordable nuclear energy.
It is clear that artificial intelligence needs new sources of electricity and SMRs are a viable option, according to many. According to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Small modular reactors are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW per unitwhich represents approximately one third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear reactors, but can be ten times smaller than a nuclear reactor.
Many of the benefits of SMRs are directly linked to the nature of their design: small and modular. Due to their smaller size, SMRs can be located in locations not suitable for larger nuclear power plants. They can be create SMR units and then ship and install them on sitemaking them more affordable to build than large power reactors, which are often custom-designed for a particular location, taking even longer to install. SMRs offer savings in construction costs and time, and can be deployed incrementally to meet growing energy demand.
Google explains in its statement that the “Kairos Power technology uses a molten salt cooling systemcombined with a pebble-type ceramic fuel, to efficiently transport heat to a steam turbine to generate power. “This safe passive system allows the reactor to operate at low pressure, allowing for a simpler and more affordable nuclear reactor design.”