Google has announced a collaboration with nuclear startup Kairos Power to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) to supply 500 megawatts of carbon-free electricity. This energy will support Google’s data centers and AI operations, which require increasing amounts of power.
The new reactors are expected to be operational by the end of the decade. However, it remains unclear whether the energy will be directly fed into Google’s facilities or supplied through the electric grid. Google follows in the footsteps of Microsoft and Amazon, which have also sought nuclear power to meet their energy demands. In March, Amazon revealed plans to connect a new data center to a nearby nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Similarly, Microsoft secured a deal with Constellation Energy to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island, previously shut down in 2019.
Kairos Faces Competition from Fusion and Other SMRs
If Kairos Power meets its 2030 deadline, it will exceed its earlier projection of being operational by the early 2030s. However, the company must contend with emerging fusion startups aiming to deploy commercial reactors by 2035. While conventional nuclear plants take decades to construct—such as Georgia’s Vogtle units, delayed by seven years—SMRs like those from Kairos promise faster and cheaper construction using mass production techniques.
Kairos’ reactors will use molten salts of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride for cooling, unlike traditional reactors that rely on water. Although the startup has secured approval to build a 35-megawatt demonstration plant, SMRs’ economic viability remains largely untested. We’ll keep you updated as Kairos progresses and proves whether molten salt cooling outperforms conventional methods, which have decades of proven success.
Public Opinion on Nuclear Power
Public sentiment on nuclear energy remains mixed, notes NIX Solutions. According to Pew Research, 56% of Americans support nuclear power, while 44% oppose it. However, opinions may shift if new reactors are planned near populated areas. While nuclear power offers long-term potential, many Americans continue to favor wind and solar, which are currently cheaper and more widely available.
We’ll keep you updated as Google and Kairos move forward with this ambitious energy initiative.