Google Inks Deal With Nuclear Company As Data Center Power Demand Surges (cnbc.com) 18
Google announced it will purchase power from Kairos Power's small modular reactors (SMRs) to support its clean energy goals and data center demands. The company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. CNBC reports: There are only three SMRs that are operating in the world, and none in the U.S. The hope is that SMRs are a more cost-effective way to scale up nuclear power. In the past, large, commercial-scale nuclear reactor projects have run over budget and behind schedule, and many hope SMRs won't suffer that same fate. But it is uncharted territory to some extent. Kairos Power, which is backed by the Department of Energy, was founded in 2016. In July, the company began construction on its Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Rather than use water as the reactor coolant -- as is used in traditional nuclear reactors -- Kairos Power uses molten fluoride salt.
Google said the first reactor will be online by 2030, with more reactors going live through 2035. In total, 500 megawatts will be added to the grid. That's much smaller than commercial reactors -- Unit 4 at Plant Vogtle, which came online this year, is 1.1 gigawatts, for example -- but there's a lot of momentum behind SMRs. Advocates point to lower costs, faster completion times, as well as location flexibility as reasons. Monday's announcement is another example of the growing partnership between tech companies and nuclear power. Data centers need 24/7 reliable power, and right now nuclear is the only source of emissions-free baseload power. Many hyperscalers have ambitious emissions-reduction targets, which is why they're turning to nuclear power.
Google said the first reactor will be online by 2030, with more reactors going live through 2035. In total, 500 megawatts will be added to the grid. That's much smaller than commercial reactors -- Unit 4 at Plant Vogtle, which came online this year, is 1.1 gigawatts, for example -- but there's a lot of momentum behind SMRs. Advocates point to lower costs, faster completion times, as well as location flexibility as reasons. Monday's announcement is another example of the growing partnership between tech companies and nuclear power. Data centers need 24/7 reliable power, and right now nuclear is the only source of emissions-free baseload power. Many hyperscalers have ambitious emissions-reduction targets, which is why they're turning to nuclear power.
Makes little sense, except for... (Score:2)
The strange part is that a normal large power plant would make more sense for data centers. They want a lot of power, they want it cheap, and stable. There's really no need to scale it down.
I'm guessing they're trying to side step punitive regulation put in place by anti-nuclear activists with goal of preventing new nuclear power plants from being built. Which was quite successful across many Western nations.
Re:Makes little sense, except for... (Score:4, Insightful)
Yup!
One of the impacts of regulation is that it changes. Building a large plant takes years and while it is being built regulations change. While the plant is still being built, the plant has to make changes to align with the new regulations. There is a long post on Medium or Substack about this. The article tries to nail down why the US is one of the most expensive places to build nuclear power. Changing regulations is a major cause.
If one could bang out a dozen modular reactors in the time it takes to build a single large one, it is a huge win.
Re: (Score:2)
Why waste time with these little chickenshit reactors, we need gigawatts of nuclear
Their goal is to be able to build reactors quickly to one standard in factories like aircraft, rather than slowly site-built with every one being different, like airports. But 2030 as a starting date? China will be cranking SMRs out long before that. Those won't be approved in he US or EU, but the data centers can easily be built in hungry countries that do approve them.
Re: (Score:2)
Why waste time with these little chickenshit reactors, we need gigawatts of nuclear
Because the big reactors take 20 years to finish and have a track record of massive cost overruns.
The SMRs will be built on an assembly line. You just go online and order what you need, and it shows up a few days later, ready to plug in and operate.
Need a gigawatt? Just order twenty 50-Mw SMRs.
Re: (Score:3)
It's an attempt at reassuring investors of continued growth while also saying they're being real about global warming.
Google are hedging their bets is all. After all, this AI thing is seriously wasteful on electricity. Worse than Bitcoin.
The reality is renewables are going to supersede SMRs for baseload capacity before they can be realised. Renewables will even push hydro offline in the end.
Re: Makes little sense, except for... (Score:1)
Not Polywell? (Score:2)
Hydro (Score:5, Informative)
nuclear is the only source of emissions-free baseload power
Hydro isn't emission-free baseload power?
Bill Gates, Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos have all backed nuclear companies.
There is money to be made if it works. But a power purchase agreement, assuming that's what this is, doesn't guarantee it will ever produce any power. The larger issue with all these plants is who is responsible if anything goes wrong. With plants attached to the grid the ratepayers are responsible, but I doubt Google or Microsoft are taking on that liability here.
Re:Hydro (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Tidal power is not baseload.
Power peaks twice a day, dropping to zero in between.
"...the first reactor will be online by 2030" (Score:1)
Let's face it, the US doesn't have the chops to actually build these things anymore.
Re:"...the first reactor will be online by 2030" (Score:4, Interesting)
To get any sort of nuclear plant approved in the US is going to take a LOT longer than 5ish years. For the US SMR's are a new tech, so even less likely for speedy regulatory approval.
It's nice that they have more location options than traditional nuclear. So the option of placing these things in places people won't get overly offended may help the process.
The article does not state that they intend to deploy in the US. It actually reads as if they were being very careful about not mentioning this. So Google may be aiming to put SMR's in a more friendly country. There is talk about various US agencies and existing nuclear but nothing about deploying SMR's in the US. I suspect this is a test article to gauge reaction. Allowing Google to "clarify" certain points in such a way that they can spin it in a more positive light.
My personal view on this is Google will deploy in a more friendly country first. Use that as proof that they and the operator can delivery and use them efficiently and safely. In order to accelerate the US regulatory process. Also since SMR's are not American they don't need US approval to operate them outside the US. An American style reactor would require US approval to "export" nuclear technology. This last point is debatable however. I'm sure the US nuclear regulatory authority would have comment.
Besides 2030 for a US deployment even stretches Elon time hopefulness. Also costs associated with SMR's are not well understood. The long term costs are definitely not known.
SMR's are not the solution to all things bad about Nuclear. SMR's are their own waste storage systems. Meaning that where they are built is forever a nuclear waste site. That must be maintained and protected. The only thing that SMR's bring to the table is big changes to the cooling stack. So a dramatically reduced requirement for access to vast amounts of clean water. Which has been a weak point for current reactors types.
SMR's also require a permanent connection to a stable power grid. They can not operate isolated from the grid. The grid provides the emergency power to power the pumps for cooling in the advent of some incident in the reactor. Example if an SMR scrams and it's not connected to the grid it has a high chance of melting down without an active powered cooling system. SMR's are not nuclear power plants in a box.
Also Note Hydro electric provides baseload. So does geo-thermal and Solar tower. It can be argued that renewables + storage also provide the same.
Again it feels like someone is testing the water here to gain public reaction. Favourable and Google puts out a hand for federal money to help "mature" the tech. Unfavourable deploy in another country and use experience there to drive US acceptance.
Re: (Score:2)
>> The article does not state that they intend to deploy in the US
But other articles do.
"In a deal that marks the first corporate agreement to deploy multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) in the U.S"
https://www.powermag.com/googl... [powermag.com]
Re: (Score:3)
https://www.gevernova.com/nucl... [gevernova.com]
Site preparation has already begun, a process simplified by the fact they are being built on an already a licenced nuclear site.
https://www.opg.com/projects-s... [opg.com]
I'm hopeful for the success of this project. OPG's ongoing refurbishment of their existing nuclear fleet has been quite well managed time and budget wise so far.
going nuclear (Score:2)
To slightly more accurately predict the next most likely word in a sentence.
Makes total sense.
Good luck (Score:3)
Good luck to Kairos but they don't even have a pilot plant up and running. The NRC gave them a permit to build a 35-MWth “non-power” demonstration unit last year, and it is "anticipated" in 2027. And sure, if they ever do produce actual power, Google will probably buy some.
https://www.powermag.com/googl... [powermag.com]
Receiving +500 million, results in 2035 or so (Score:2)
Sounds like a trustworthy investment just to piss off Bill Gates.