Google Partners to Progress Development of 1.8 GW Next-Generation Nuclear Power

This week, Google and nuclear power developer Elementl Power unveiled their partnership on three sites designated for advanced nuclear reactors.

The tech giant is keen on securing energy sources as its AI projects lead to surging power needs at its data centers. Google plans to invest $75 billion this year to enhance data center capacity.

With this new agreement, Google pledges to add at least 600 megawatts of generating capacity at each of the three locations. Elementl has stated that the reactors will integrate with the grid, providing an option for commercial off-take, allowing Google to acquire power directly.

Elementl has been relatively low-profile until now. While the team has expertise in the nuclear field, they have not yet constructed any power plants. The company was founded by Breakwater North and backed by Energy Impact Partners.

Adopting a “technology agnostic” approach, Elementl has not yet selected a small modular reactor (SMR) partner for the initiatives. Many options are on the table, but Kairos Power stands out due to its established relationship with Google.

Kairos reports that its demonstration plant is projected to produce 50 megawatts of electricity, with a commercial plant anticipated to yield 150 megawatts from two reactors.

While there is no universally recognized definition, SMRs typically have a maximum output of about 300 megawatts. In contrast, the latest completed nuclear power plant in the U.S., Vogtle Unit 4 in Georgia, generates over 1.1 gigawatts of electricity, almost quadrupling the capacity of a large SMR.

Silicon Valley has embraced SMRs, with a surge of startups entering the sector and promising to lower reactor costs through mass production, aided by the compact design of SMRs. This, combined with the reliability of 24/7 power generation suitable for locations near data centers, has led to numerous agreements with SMR startups, including Oklo, X-Energy, and Kairos.

Nevertheless, no SMR has been built outside of China. One startup, NuScale, is close to this milestone but encountered a setback in 2023 when its utility partner canceled their contract after project costs soared—despite attempts to streamline plans to control expenses.