Amazon Reveals Massive Nuclear SMR Plan for AI & Cloud Power

As AI and cloud services continue to explode, so does the energy required to power them. Amazon, facing a massive demand, is turning to nuclear power as a cleaner, more sustainable solution. The tech giant recently unveiled plans for its upcoming small modular reactor (SMR) project, the ‘Cascade Advanced Energy Facility,’ to be built in Richland, Washington. This ambitious endeavor is a collaboration with Energy Northwest, Washington state’s utility agency, and SMR specialist X-energy.

These SMRs are a game-changer: they’re significantly smaller than conventional nuclear reactors but boast a modular design capable of generating an impressive 960 megawatts when fully scaled. Amazon’s initial phase for the Cascade facility involves developing four SMRs, which will provide an early power capacity of 320 megawatts. The long-term vision allows for expansion to a total of 12 units, maximizing energy output. We can expect construction to kick off before the end of this decade, with operations slated to begin sometime in the 2030s.

Interestingly, Amazon isn’t alone in this nuclear push. Other tech titans are also exploring atomic power for their AI needs. Last October, Google announced a partnership with Kairos Power to develop seven SMRs across the US. And a month later, Meta reportedly hit a snag – a rare bee species – that temporarily halted its plans for a nuclear-powered AI data center. It seems the race for sustainable, high-capacity energy is heating up, and nuclear is firmly on the table for big tech.