American technology giant Google has taken the first step toward powering its massive data centers with nuclear energy. The company has partnered with Kairos Power to address artificial intelligence and its growing energy needs. Under this agreement, the energy generated by the Hermes 2 reactor, to be built in Oak Ridge, will be directly transferred to Google’s data centers.

Google is building a nuclear reactor

Under a long-term purchase agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the 50-megawatt Hermes 2 is scheduled to become operational in 2030. This project also marks the first corporate agreement to purchase energy from small modular reactors (SMRs).

Google’s move is seen as a solution to alleviate the burden on the US grid caused by the energy consumption of its growing AI data centers. The agreement aims to reach a total capacity of 500 megawatts. Hermes 2, which received construction permits in November 2024, consists of two 35 MWt molten salt-cooled reactors. The financial details of the agreement between the companies have not yet been disclosed.

This agreement clearly demonstrates technology companies’ growing interest in clean energy and their search for sustainable solutions to their massive energy needs. Google’s focus on nuclear energy opens a new door not only for its own operations but also for other major technology companies grappling with similar energy challenges.

Thus, small-scale nuclear reactors are becoming a significant alternative for meeting the growing energy demand of the age of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.