Why is it in the news?

• On October 14, 2024, Google announced its first corporate agreement to purchase nuclear energy from small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Kairos Power.
• This deal is set to deliver 500 MW of carbon-free power to the U.S. grid by 2030, with additional phases planned through 2035. Google sees this as a crucial step for advancing AI technologies and scientific breakthroughs.
• The company’s 2024 Environmental Report revealed a 13% rise in global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, driven by the energy demands of expanding data centres and AI operations. Google views nuclear energy as a clean, round-the-clock, and carbon-free solution to meet this growing demand.

Microsoft and Amazon’s Push for Nuclear Power

• On September 20, 2024, Microsoft signed a 20-year agreement with Constellation to launch the Crane Clean Energy Centre and restart the Three Mile Island Unit 1, adding 835 MW of carbon-free energy to the grid. This aligns with Microsoft’s efforts to decarbonize the grid and become carbon-negative.
• Amazon has also made significant moves in nuclear energy, announcing three new agreements to support projects, including partnerships with Energy Northwest in Washington and Dominion Energy in Virginia.
• Additionally, Amazon is investing in SMR developer X-energy and plans to co-locate a data centre next to Talen Energy’s nuclear plant in Pennsylvania.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is another key figure backing nuclear projects, having invested in nuclear startup Oklo, which aims to build a commercial microreactor by 2027, and nuclear fusion company Helion.

Nuclear Energy’s Controversial Image

• Despite its potential, nuclear energy remains controversial due to historical accidents such as Chernobyl (1986), Fukushima (2011), and Three Mile Island (1979), which caused environmental damage and continue to raise safety concerns.
• Environmental groups like ‘Friends of the Earth’ argue that nuclear power is dangerous, costly, and prone to accidents.
• However, SMRs are seen as a safer and more cost-effective alternative due to their smaller, modular designs, allowing them to operate in areas unsuitable for larger plants.

U.S. Government’s Stance on Nuclear Energy

• The U.S. government considers nuclear power a key part of its clean energy strategy. The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy emphasizes the need to reassert the U.S. as a global leader in nuclear technology, especially in competition with China and Russia.
• Currently, U.S. nuclear plants prevent nearly 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to taking 100 million cars off the road.