Growing Importance of Nuclear Energy

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Recently, Google has announced the 'first corporate agreement' to buy nuclear power from several small modular reactors (SMR).

About Small Modular Reactors (SMR):

• Small modular reactors (SMR) are a new class of nuclear reactors, which are capable of producing electricity and are much smaller than conventional nuclear power reactors. They also have comparatively better safety features.
• SMR can be used to generate electricity on small grids. Their power capacity is up to 300 megawatts per unit, which is about one-third of the production capacity of conventional nuclear power reactors.
• Due to its small size, it can be manufactured in a factory as well as its many units can be transported to the plant location for installation and operation simultaneously.

Types of SMRs:

Small modular reactors can vary considerably in size, design features, and cooling types. Examples of different SMR technologies include:

• Pressurized water plants
• Liquid salt-based plants
• High temperature gas plants
• Liquid metal coolant plants
• Solid state or heat pipe plants

Need for nuclear power use by large technology companies:

Google

• Google's growing data centers require a lot of energy to train and maintain artificial intelligence (AI) models.
• In its 2024 environment report, Google acknowledged that its total global greenhouse gas emissions grew by 13% year-over-year in 2023.
  • Renewable energy is needed to reduce emissions and support this AI transition.
• According to Google, nuclear energy is clean and available uninterruptedly. That's why the company recognizes next-generation nuclear reactors as an option for clean energy supply.

Microsoft:

Microsoft and Constellation signed a 20-year power purchase agreement aimed at launching the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC) and restarting Three Mile Island Unit 1.

Amazon

• Amazon also announced that it has signed three new agreements to support the construction of nuclear power projects.
  • Amazon signed a deal with Talen Energy to build a data center facility in Pennsylvania that will power data centers with carbon-free energy.

Open AI

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman backs nuclear startup Oklo, which aims to operate a commercial microreactor in Idaho by the year 2027.
  • Altman also invested in nuclear fusion company Helion in the year 2021.

Is Nuclear Energy Really Clean?

• There is still a lack of clarity regarding the cleanliness of nuclear energy. Many environmental groups are actively opposing nuclear power and the way it is presented as "clean energy".
• According to environmental groups, public memories of past accidents and crises related to nuclear power still exist.
  • The Chernobyl explosion (1986) in Ukraine and the Fukushima accident (2011) in Japan resulted in widespread environmental destruction whose effects are still felt today.
  • The Three Mile Island accident in the year 1979 in the United States resulted in the release of radioactive gases.