On Wednesday, Elementl Power announced that Google will finance the development of three nuclear sites.
The tech giant is investing capital to facilitate initial project activities such as site permitting and contract negotiations. However, Elementl Power has not disclosed the exact amount Google is putting toward this initiative.
The trio of sites is expected to produce a minimum of 600 megawatts of energy each, and Google has the right to buy energy once the projects are completed.
The specific locations for these new sites haven’t yet been revealed.
As Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global data center energy director, explained, “Google is dedicated to fostering projects that enhance our operational power grid, with advanced nuclear technology offering consistent, reliable energy.” She also noted that the partnership with Elementl Power would help accelerate efforts to keep pace with the increasing demands of AI and innovation in America.
Elementl Power describes itself as “technology agnostic,” which essentially means they haven’t committed to a specific nuclear reactor design just yet. They seem to be waiting for the most advanced option available when production begins.
Founded in 2022, Elementl has yet to construct a site. Google is collaborating with various nuclear developers to enhance the energy available to substantial data centers, which are essential for running AI models.
For instance, back in October, Google formed a partnership with Kairos Power and committed to purchasing electricity from one of its small modular reactors, projected to be operational by 2030.
Elementl Power’s CEO, Chris Colbert, emphasized that these reactors are vital for attracting the necessary funding for new nuclear projects, which are crucial for providing safe, affordable, and clean energy, thereby supporting businesses in achieving their long-term goals for sustainability.
Elementl is looking to secure additional funding from other sources when it’s time to initiate the actual construction.
They aim to contribute 10 gigawatts of nuclear energy to the national grid by 2035. Yet, there are concerns arising, especially after China’s DeepSeek introduced a competitive and supposedly cost-effective model, about whether these large data centers are truly needed for supporting advanced AI systems.
Notably, industry giants like Amazon and Nvidia claimed last month that the pace of data center construction remains robust, with energy demand continuing to rise.
Kevin Miller, vice president of Amazon’s global data centers, stated last month, “We are still witnessing significant demand, and the long-term outlook shows that numbers will only increase.”
