Yet Another Tech Giant Throws Its Weight Behind Nuclear As AI's Monstrous Power Demands Spike

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Landmark Deal

Google has signed a major nuclear energy agreement aimed at powering its AI operations while reducing environmental impact.

On Monday, the company announced a landmark deal with nuclear startup Kairos Power to purchase energy from seven small modular reactors that have yet to be built. The partners say the project will deliver up to 500 megawatts of new 24/7 carbon-free power to U.S. electricity grids once the reactors come online more than a decade from now.

​AI systems are highly energy-intensive. Although developers often highlight AI’s potential to help address the climate crisis, the industry’s heavy dependence on non-renewable energy sources has already caused companies such as Google and Microsoft to miss key emissions targets.

Google and Kairos present the agreement as an important step toward more sustainable technology development, especially for AI workloads.

“This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably,” wrote Michael Terrell, Google’s senior director for energy and climate, in a company blog post, “and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone.”

Big Promises

According to the announcement, the first modular reactor is scheduled to begin operating in 2030, with all seven units expected to be completed by 2035.

As Bloomberg reported in May, Google stopped large-scale purchases of carbon offset credits in 2026 because of rising emissions from its AI initiatives and therefore no longer claims to be carbon neutral. The company still aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, although AI-driven energy demand is making that target more challenging.

In his blog post, Terrell emphasized that the nuclear deal is intended to complement Google’s existing use of variable renewables such as solar and wind, supporting its goals for 24/7 carbon-free energy and net-zero emissions.

Nuclear Revival

Google is not the only AI company turning to nuclear power to address its growing energy needs.

​In a separate high-profile move, Microsoft announced last month an agreement to restart the long-idle nuclear plant at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island, the site of the most serious nuclear accident in U.S. history. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also made significant investments in both conventional nuclear power and next-generation fusion technology.

Nuclear energy has long faced public skepticism in the United States. However, as major technology firms seek reliable, low-carbon electricity to run advanced AI models, interest in nuclear power is experiencing a notable resurgence. Whether these efforts will allow companies to scale AI while still meeting their climate commitments remains an open question.

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