Data centers enabled by artificial intelligence and cloud computing are pushing energy demand and production to new limits. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, global electricity use could increase by up to 75% by 2050, and the tech industry’s AI ambitions are expected to drive the surge.
Data centers powering AI and cloud computing could soon be large enough to use more power than an entire city.
As leaders in the AI race push for further technological advancements and deployments, many are realizing that their energy needs are increasingly at odds with their sustainability goals.
“A new data center that requires the same amount of power as Chicago, for example, can’t escape the problem without understanding its power needs,” said Mark Nelson, managing director of Radiant Energy Group. “That kind of power is needed: steady, linear, 100% power, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” he added.
After years of focusing on renewable energy, major technology companies are now turning to nuclear power for its ability to provide energy at scale in a more efficient and sustainable way.
Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are among the best-known companies exploring or investing in nuclear power projects. This announcement marks the beginning of an industry-wide trend as data centers and AI models drive energy demands.
“What we’re seeing is that nuclear power has a lot of benefits,” said Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director of energy and climate. “It’s a zero-carbon power source. It’s an always-on, always-running power source. And it delivers huge economic benefits.”
After nuclear power was largely abandoned in the past due to widespread concerns about core meltdowns and safety risks and misinformation that polarized those concerns, experts say recent investments in the technology could lead to a “nuclear revival” that could accelerate America’s energy transition. It is being advertised as a start. And all over the world.
Watch the video Find out why Big Tech is investing in nuclear power, the opposition they face, and when their nuclear ambitions could actually become a reality.
