Taiwan’s New Approach to Nuclear Energy Restart? AI Sparks a Nuclear Energy Revolution: Tech Giants Compete in the Next Generation of Nuclear Fission.

U.S. Electricity Demand Reignited by AI Boom

After years of stagnation with nearly zero growth, U.S. electricity demand has finally been ignited by the explosive development of artificial intelligence. To support the enormous demand for 24/7, high-stability computing capabilities from data centers, tech giants are accelerating their search for reliable and clean power sources. One answer is nuclear fission energy. With the rise of next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) technology, the nuclear energy industry is experiencing a long-awaited renaissance. Companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are signing power purchase agreements with nuclear startups and even investing directly, vying for a head start in this energy revolution.

Why Does the Tech Industry Love Nuclear Fission?

Nuclear fission, unlike still-experimental nuclear fusion, is a currently viable and deployed form of nuclear energy. For data centers that require stable operations, the intermittency and instability of traditional energy sources are inadequate, while nuclear fission can provide uninterrupted power supply 24/7, making it an ideal partner for the “perpetual motion machine” of AI computing. In addition to stable power supply, tech companies are also eyeing the potential of small modular reactors. These next-generation nuclear facilities, designed for modular and mass production, are not only safer and more flexible but also hold the promise of significantly reducing construction costs.

The Small but Powerful Future: The Rise of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

Traditional nuclear power plants are mostly designed around large and expensive 1GW (1 billion watts) reactors, making construction costs and timelines daunting. In contrast, small modular reactors, while having lower power output, can be flexibly assembled like Lego blocks, allowing for scale expansion according to demand and improving overall deployment speed and safety. Although there are currently no officially operational SMR plants in the U.S., this has not dampened the investment enthusiasm of tech giants. Below are some nuclear fission startups attracting significant funding from Silicon Valley.

Kairos Power: The High-Safety Salt-Cooled Reactor Backed by Google

Kairos Power from California has secured a commitment from Google to purchase up to 500 megawatts (MW) of power by 2035, with the first reactor expected to come online in 2030. Kairos’ reactor uses high-boiling-point fluoride salt as a coolant, allowing it to operate in a low-pressure environment, thereby enhancing safety. Its fuel pellets are encased in carbon and ceramic, making them resistant to high temperatures and preventing meltdown. This startup has also received a $629 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and expects to begin construction on two test reactors (each 35 MW) in Tennessee in November 2024, with the commercial scale projected to reach 75 MW.

Oklo: The Liquid Metal-Cooled Nuclear Dream Backed by OpenAI CEO Altman

Oklo is another startup focused on the SMR field, with high-profile investor OpenAI CEO Sam Altman among its backers. Altman not only invests but is also taking Oklo public through his shell company AltC. Oklo’s reactor uses liquid metal cooling, with foundational design from the U.S. Department of Energy, aiming to reduce nuclear waste. Although their first plant application was rejected in 2022, the company plans to resubmit in 2025. Currently, Oklo has reached an agreement with data center company Switch, expecting to supply up to 12GW of nuclear power by 2044.

Saltfoss: Building Floating Nuclear Power Plants

Originally named Seaborg, Danish startup Saltfoss is also pursuing fluoride salt cooling but with a creative twist: the “floating nuclear energy barge.” The plan involves installing 2 to 8 SMRs on vessels for mobile deployment to different areas. The company has raised about $60 million, with investors including Bill Gates, Peter Thiel, and Unity co-founder David Helgason, and has signed a construction contract with Samsung Heavy Industries.

TerraPower: Bill Gates’ Vision for Liquid Sodium Nuclear Energy

Founded by Bill Gates, TerraPower is constructing its first Natrium nuclear power plant in Wyoming, USA. This reactor combines liquid sodium cooling with molten salt storage, with a power output of 345 MW, positioned between large nuclear plants and SMRs. The highlight of Natrium is its ability to store excess thermal energy during low electricity demand and convert it back into electricity when demand rises, allowing nuclear power to flexibly respond to intermittent demand. Major investors include Cascade Investment, Khosla Ventures, and steel giant ArcelorMittal.

X-Energy: The Gas-Cooled Reactor with Major Investment from Amazon

X-Energy is currently one of the largest SMR companies by funding, having secured $700 million in a C-1 funding round led by the Amazon Climate Pledge Fund in 2024. The company plans to build a total generating capacity of 300MW in the Pacific Northwest and Virginia. X-Energy’s Xe-100 reactor features a unique design using high-temperature gas cooling, facilitating heat exchange through helium flowing among 200,000 fuel “marbles,” providing 80MW of output. Although this technology is rare in Europe and the U.S., X-Energy is striving to prove its future potential.

A Symbiotic Future of AI and Nuclear Energy

As artificial intelligence’s appetite for energy grows, traditional power grids will struggle to meet its demands solely with renewable energy. Next-generation nuclear fission technologies, especially SMRs, are becoming a lifeline in Silicon Valley’s eyes. While there are still regulatory and technological challenges to overcome, tech giants are betting on the future, having already incorporated nuclear energy into their AI infrastructure blueprint.

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