Google to Revive Nuclear Facility for AI Infrastructure
In a groundbreaking move, Google has announced its intention to reactivate a nuclear energy facility in Iowa, aimed at bolstering the technological demands of its artificial intelligence operations.
The tech giant has partnered with NextEra Energy, an established electric power provider, to breathe life back into the Duane Arnold Energy Center, which has remained inactive since 2020.
The facility is projected to resume operations in 2029, with the purpose of powering Google’s expanding cloud and AI infrastructure located in Iowa, according to a joint declaration from both entities.
Under this new arrangement, Google has entered into a comprehensive 25-year agreement to acquire power from the facility upon its reopening.
This announcement follows a similar initiative by Constellation, which revealed plans over a year ago to restart the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, enabled by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft.
Like Duane Arnold, this facility ceased operations in 2019 due to financial constraints and is notorious for a nearly catastrophic meltdown in 1979. It will now operate under the moniker Crane Clean Energy Center.
The revival initiative at the Google partnership facility will be fully owned by NextEra, which has finalized an agreement to purchase shares from minority stakeholders to gain complete control.
“As the United States embarks on a new chapter of innovation propelled by AI, this strategic alliance is designed to facilitate Google’s expanding business requirements in a responsible manner,” the joint statement articulates.
Furthermore, both companies extolled the virtues of nuclear energy as a carbon-neutral power source.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, emphasized that this partnership represents a blueprint for the necessary investments across the nation to enhance energy capacity and provide dependable, clean power while maintaining affordability and fostering job creation in an AI-driven economy.
John Ketchum, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, remarked that this collaboration “accelerates the advancement of next-generation nuclear technologies.”
The Escalating Energy Demands of AI
Artificial intelligence has rapidly ascended to become a primary driver of energy consumption, with projections for 2025 indicating significant increases.
In April, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasted that electricity usage by data centers, which power AI applications, will more than double by 2030.
The IEA’s report indicated that electricity consumption from data centers is anticipated to reach approximately 415 terawatt hours, constituting about 1.5% of global electricity usage by 2024.
However, the report cautioned that there exists “significant uncertainty regarding current and future data center consumption.”
In addition to the current venture, Google is actively pursuing other initiatives to augment its power capacity, including a collaboration with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear power facilities in the United States.
Source link: Abc.net.au.
