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Amazon and Google have announced individual partnerships to develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to address the increasing energy demands of their AI operations.

What’s the deal with Amazon: In an announcement, Amazon revealed its plans to partner with Energy Northwest to support the construction of four small modular reactors (SMRs) in Washington, which will initially produce 320 megawatts of power, with the potential to scale up to 960 megawatts. The company secured the right to purchase electricity from these reactors to power its operations, including AWS. Amazon also announced a $500 million investment in X-energy, a nuclear reactor and fuel company, to advance the technology used in the reactors.

What’s the deal with Google: A day before Amazon’s announcement, Google revealed its plans to integrate nuclear energy into its infrastructure to power its AI data centers. In partnership with Kairos Power, Google will back the construction of seven small modular reactors (SMRs) across the US, with the first reactor expected to be operational by 2030 and the remaining ones by 2035. These reactors will utilize a molten salt cooling system, designed to enhance safety and efficiency while generating 500 megawatts of power—enough to support the energy needs of a midsize city.

Digging Deeper: Both Amazon and Google are turning to nuclear energy as a solution to the immense power demands of their rapidly expanding AI operations. AI technologies require vast amounts of energy, straining existing power grids.