Data Center Boom Fuels Demand for Nuclear Projects

Tech giants are increasingly turning to nuclear power to meet the growing energy demands of the data center boom.

For example, recent projects include Amazon’s funding of four small modular reactors in Washington state, Google’s agreement with Kairos Power to develop SMRs by 2030 and Microsoft’s power purchase agreement to restart Three Mile Island, a nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that was shut down in 2019.

That connection between data centers and nuclear power plants should continue to strengthen, said Gordon Dolven, director of data center research at CBRE, a Dallas-based commercial real estate services firm.

“This role is expected to grow, especially with advancements like small modular reactors,” said Dolven. “[These] offer scalable and flexible solutions to support future energy needs.”

Integration of nuclear energy into tech companies’ operations offers new opportunities for contractors with specialized experience, said Fluor CEO David Constable during the firm’s third quarter earnings call.

Constable recently identified small modular reactors as a key growth area, saying “there’s a strong appetite for nuclear energy to meet incredible demand for power globally.” He added “interest has never been greater.”

Read the rest of this article in Construction Dive.

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