The United States is accelerating its efforts to deploy an estimated 1800 megawatts (MW) of advanced nuclear energy capacity, primarily to fuel the nation’s rapidly expanding data centers.
The latest development sees tech behemoth Google collaborating with Elementl Power to prepare three US sites, each slated for at least 600 MW of nuclear capacity, specifically for large-scale data center operations.
“Nuclear energy can provide around-the-clock abundant and reliable electricity, making it an attractive solution to meet rising energy demand from AI and data centers,” said US DOE in a press release.
Data-driven siting approach
This strategic partnership builds upon a foundation laid by a US Department of Energy (DOE) GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear) voucher, which catalyzed a collaboration between Elementl and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
Together, they are advancing a data-driven approach to identify optimal sites for advanced nuclear reactor projects and aim to overcome the traditionally complex and time-consuming process of nuclear power plant siting.
Elementl is leveraging its proprietary, multi-criteria siting framework, significantly enhanced by ORNL’s OR-SAGE siting tool, to introduce greater geospatial precision and rigor to its early-stage development process. This innovative approach is designed to enable faster and lower-risk project deployment.
“This voucher allowed us to accelerate critical pre-development work that would otherwise take years to replicate on our own,” stated David Faherty, Elementl co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer.
“ORNL’s OR-SAGE platform gives us a data-driven foundation to screen regional siting options efficiently and allows our team to layer in our own project-specific criteria with greater speed and confidence.”
Google’s broader strategy
Google is providing early-stage capital for the development of these three sites to underscore its belief in nuclear energy’s ability to provide the consistent, round-the-clock, and reliable electricity critical for energy-intensive data centers and AI operations.
While final technology selection and site confirmation are pending further development milestones, Elementl will continue to evaluate potential technologies, engineering, procurement, and construction activities.
Google also holds an option to take commercial offtake once a final investment decision is made.
This initiative with Elementl is part of Google’s broader strategy to secure its energy future. The company already has a separate agreement in place with Kairos Power to deploy 500 MW of nuclear capacity by 2035.
Kairos Power recently commenced nuclear construction on its Hermes reactor, an advanced reactor project supported by the DOE, which will inform the deployment of its commercial fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor in the early 2030s.
Driving innovation through GAIN
This concerted effort signals a significant push to meet the escalating energy demands of the digital age with reliable and sustainable nuclear power.
“The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) plays a critical role in connecting emerging developers like Elementl with national laboratory resources and expertise,” concluded the press release.
“Established by DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, GAIN provides the nuclear community with the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move innovative nuclear technologies toward commercialization.”