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   Google is building a small nuclear reactor in Tennessee to power its data   
   centers   
      
   Date:   
   Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:31:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   Google joins Kairos Power and TVA to deploy advanced nuclear reactor, aiming   
   to fuel expanding cloud hosting and AI growth.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   Google has entered into a collaboration with Kairos Power and the Tennessee   
   Valley Authority (TVA) to support the development of a small modular nuclear   
   reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to power its infrastucture expansion.    
      
   The company announced the Hermes 2 facility is expected to begin operations    
   in 2030, and generate up to 50 megawatts of electricity for the TVA grid.    
      
   This will help power Googles data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, which are   
   central to the companys growing needs for the likes of cloud hosting , cloud   
   storage , and AI tools .   
      
   Partnership model for advanced nuclear power    
      
   The arrangement takes the form of a power purchase agreement, in which TVA   
   will buy electricity from Kairos Power and deliver the clean energy    
   attributes to Google.    
      
   The partners describe this as the first purchase of electricity from a   
   Generation IV reactor by a US utility.    
      
   While the project provides only a fraction of the 500 megawatts Google has   
   outlined as a longer-term goal, it is being framed as a proof of concept for   
   how utilities, technology companies, and developers might share costs and   
   risks in future deployments.    
      
   Unlike solar and wind, which depend on weather conditions, nuclear power can   
   provide continuous energy.    
      
   "Nuclear is the bedrock of the future of energy security. Google stepping in   
   and helping shoulder the burden of the cost and risk for first-of-a-kind   
   nuclear projects... its not just good for Google. Its good for TVAs 10    
   million customers. Its good for the United States," said Don Moul, CEO of    
   TVA.    
      
   However, nuclear construction has historically faced delays and cost    
   overruns, raising questions about whether this new generation of reactors    
   will truly deliver affordable and reliable power at scale.    
      
   The project is also being presented as a way to boost economic activity in    
   Oak Ridge, a city long tied to nuclear research and development.    
      
   Training programs with the University of Tennessee and other local   
   institutions are being planned to prepare workers for technical roles at the   
   Hermes 2 plant.    
      
   While the initiative promises high-paying jobs and renewed investment,    
   critics may ask whether reliance on experimental nuclear designs is the most   
   effective strategy compared to expanding proven renewable generation.    
      
   Nevertheless, this development has attracted interest and comments from   
   industry experts, government agencies, and politicians.    
      
   To power the future, we need to grow the availability of smart, firm energy   
   sources... This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge   
   community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies.   
   said Amanda Peterson Corio, Googles Global Head of Data Center Energy.    
      
   This collaboration is an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy   
   commercially competitive, said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder.    
      
   Tennessees legacy of nuclear innovation positions the Volunteer State to lead   
   Americas energy dominance and drive continued economic growth with safe,   
   clean, and reliable nuclear energy, said Governor Bill Lee.   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/google-is-building-a-small-nuclear-reactor-in-te   
   nnessee-to-power-its-data-centers   
      
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