Google is advancing its nuclear energy goals by partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to purchase electricity from a next-generation reactor developed by Kairos Power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Expected to be operational by 2030, this reactor uses innovative molten fluoride salt coolant technology, allowing it to operate at low pressure and reduce costs. This collaboration represents the first U.S. power purchase agreement for such advanced nuclear technology. The Hermes 2 reactor will supply power to the local grid supporting Google's data centers, potentially jumpstarting a new era for nuclear energy in the U.S. Google aims to help deploy 500 MW of this new nuclear capacity by 2035, contributing to cleaner energy and meeting rising electricity demands from Big Tech and AI. The initiative also involves clean energy attributes sales, aiding in carbon pollution reduction efforts.
