Google has entered into a historic agreement to utilize electricity generated by small nuclear reactors to support its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Announced on Monday in partnership with startup Kairos Power, the California-based giant will invest in the construction of seven small nuclear reactors capable of producing a combined 500 megawatts of power. The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2030, with additional units anticipated to follow in subsequent years. "The grid requires new energy sources to facilitate AI technologies that are leading significant scientific advancements, enhancing business and customer services, and bolstering national competitiveness and economic growth, " stated Michael Terrell, Google's senior director of energy and climate, in a blog post. "This agreement helps to fast-track a new clean and reliable technology to address energy needs and fully realize AI's potential for all. " Major tech firms like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are reigniting interest in nuclear energy as they search for sustainable electricity sources to power their data centers, which are essential to the AI boom. Just last month, Microsoft forged a deal with Constellation Energy to reactivate a decommissioned nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island, ensuring power supply to the tech company for the next two decades. Earlier this year, Amazon secured an agreement with Talen Energy in Houston to acquire a 1, 200-acre (486-hectare) data center campus in Pennsylvania, which sources power from a neighboring nuclear facility. Data centers currently account for around 3 percent of global electricity consumption, a figure that is projected to climb significantly in the coming years due to ongoing advancements in AI, according to the law firm White & Case. Advocates view small modular reactors as a more efficient and quicker alternative to traditional large-scale nuclear reactors.

However, this technology is still emerging, with only three operational reactors of this kind known globally, located in Russia, China, and India. Kairos Power's CEO, Mike Laufer, remarked that the partnership will enable the company to "rapidly progress along the learning curve. " "By engaging in the development stage, Google acts as more than just a customer; they serve as a partner who truly understands our innovative approach and its potential impact. " Founded in 2016 with support from the United States Department of Energy, Kairos Power aims to expedite the development of "innovative nuclear technology that has the capacity to reshape the energy landscape both domestically and internationally. "