Microsoft is planning to reopen a nuclear energy plant in Pennsylvania, however it’s not the one tech large tapping into nuclear vitality to fulfill AI’s growing energy wants: Google can also be stepping into the sport with a brand new partnership.
On Monday, Google signed “the world’s first company settlement” to purchase nuclear vitality from engineering firm Kairos Energy. Inside the subsequent six years, Kairos Energy will get its first power-generating nuclear reactor up and operating. By 2035, the corporate will present Google with a number of sources of nuclear energy.
The settlement provides 500 megawatts (MWs) of energy to the U.S. grid.
Associated: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Nuclear Power ‘Is a Fantastic Manner Ahead’ to Maintain AI Information Facilities Operating
Per Google’s assertion, the settlement was essential to assist AI developments.
“This settlement helps speed up a brand new know-how to fulfill vitality wants cleanly and reliably, and unlock the complete potential of AI for everybody,” Google wrote.
Google is already behind on its environmental objectives due to investments in AI — the know-how was the principle explanation for emissions going up 48% since 2019. Nuclear vitality is a carbon-free vitality supply, one more reason Google famous for the partnership.
In the meantime, Microsoft has signed an settlement to purchase nuclear vitality from Three Mile Island, a plant that skilled essentially the most severe accident in U.S. business working historical past in 1979. The plant shut down in 2019 for financial causes however will reopen with a $1.6 billion funding. Microsoft will purchase vitality from it for 20 years.
Associated: Will It Take Nuclear Energy to Maintain AI? Microsoft Is Betting on It.
