Google Partners with TVA on Next-Generation Nuclear Reactor
Google has taken a significant step in its nuclear energy ambitions by partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to purchase electricity generated from a next-generation reactor, marking the first power purchase agreement for this advanced technology by a U.S. utility, reports 24brussels.
The TVA plans to acquire electricity from a reactor being developed by Kairos Power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Once operational, anticipated by 2030, this reactor will supply power to data centers operated by Google in Tennessee and Alabama.
This venture is poised to catalyze a new era for nuclear energy in the United States. Presently, the nation’s nuclear reactors employ outdated technology that struggles to compete against cheaper energy from gas plants and renewable sources like solar and wind. The initiative by Kairos Power aims to usher in a revival of nuclear energy, meeting the growing electricity demands from major tech companies and artificial intelligence.
The announcement follows Google’s previous commitment to source electricity from multiple small modular reactors designed by Kairos Power. The first of these, known as the Hermes 2 demonstration plant, builds upon an earlier project and is the first non-water-cooled reactor to receive regulatory approval in over fifty years.
Kairos’ innovative technology utilizes molten fluoride salt as a coolant instead of water, allowing for lower operational pressure, which proponents assert will reduce costs associated with high-pressure containment structures traditionally required in nuclear facilities.
Situated in Oak Ridge, home of the historic Manhattan Project, the site is transforming into a center for nuclear energy innovation rather than the production of atomic bomb materials.
If successful, Google intends to assist Kairos Power in deploying 500 megawatts of new nuclear capacity in the U.S. by 2035. Current data shows that the operational fleet of 94 nuclear reactors in America had a combined capacity of 97,000 megawatts in 2024, contributing just under 20% of the total electricity mix.
Power producers who generate carbon-free electricity, including nuclear and renewable sources, can gain revenues from the electricity sold to the grid alongside selling clean energy attributes. Google expects to acquire these attributes from the Hermes 2 project through TVA, supporting its environmental sustainability goals.
Many tech companies pursue these clean energy attributes to offset their electricity-related emissions. However, research suggests that the environmental benefits of purchasing these certificates can be overstated. Google’s own carbon emissions have reportedly risen, coinciding with an expansion in its AI operations.