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To accelerate the clean energy transition across the U.S., Google has signed the world’s first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) to be developed by Kairos Power. The initial phase aims to bring Kairos Power’s first SMR online by 2030, followed by additional reactor deployments through 2035. This deal is expected to enable up to 500 megawatts (MW) of new 24/7 carbon-free power to U.S. electricity grids, helping more communities benefit from clean and affordable nuclear energy.
Why it matters:
- Supporting AI and technological growth: The grid requires new electricity sources to support artificial intelligence technologies that are driving scientific advances, improving services, and fostering economic growth. This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably.
- Round-the-clock carbon-free power: Nuclear solutions offer a continuous, carbon-free power source that can meet electricity demands every hour of every day. Advancing these power sources in partnership with supportive local communities will aid in rapidly decarbonizing electricity grids worldwide.
Advancing New Advanced Nuclear Energy
This agreement is part of Google’s efforts to develop and commercialize a broad portfolio of advanced clean electricity technologies to power its global data centers and offices. This approach complements the use of variable renewables like solar and wind, helping the company reach its ambitious 24/7 carbon-free energy and net-zero goals.
The next generation of advanced nuclear reactors offers a new pathway to accelerate nuclear deployment due to their simplified design and robust inherent safety. The smaller size and modular design can reduce construction timelines, allow deployment in more locations, and make project delivery more predictable.
Investing in advanced nuclear technology can also provide direct economic benefits to communities across the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), nuclear power has the highest economic impact of any power generation source and creates high-paying, long-term jobs. The agency estimates that reaching 200 gigawatts (GW) of advanced nuclear capacity in the U.S. by 2050 will require an additional 375,000 workers.
Related Article: Google Secures 12-Year Renewable Energy Deal with energyRe for 435 MW Solar Project
Kairos Power’s Technology
Kairos Power’s technology uses a molten-salt cooling system combined with a ceramic, pebble-type fuel to efficiently transport heat to a steam turbine for power generation. This passively safe system allows the reactor to operate at low pressure, enabling a simpler and more affordable nuclear reactor design.
Using an iterative development approach, Kairos Power will complete multiple hardware demonstrations ahead of its first commercial plant. This method is intended to enable critical learnings and efficiency improvements that accelerate reactor deployments and provide greater cost certainty for customers like Google.
Kairos Power has already reached several technical milestones toward deploying its first power-producing reactor and unlocking the path to long-term commercial scale. This summer, the company broke ground on its Hermes non-powered demonstration reactor in Tennessee, the first U.S. advanced reactor project to receive a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Scaling Advanced Technologies
By procuring electricity from multiple reactors—an approach known as an “orderbook” of reactors—Google aims to help accelerate the repeated reactor deployments needed to lower costs and bring Kairos Power’s technology to market more quickly. This strategy is part of Google’s broader efforts to scale the benefits of advanced technologies to more people and communities.
Previously, in November, Google completed a first-of-its-kind enhanced geothermal project with developer Fervo Energy. Earlier this year, the company partnered with utilities across the U.S. to create a new clean transition rate that helped expand this commercial pilot to 25 times the amount of enhanced geothermal capacity.
Google plans to continue working to accelerate a diverse portfolio of advanced clean electricity technologies and bring new 24/7 clean, affordable energy onto every grid where it operates.