Tech giants and the nuclear leap: Inevitable evolution or risky gamble?
Data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence have become massive consumers of electricity, prompting giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to reconsider their energy sources. Although their investment over the past decade was clearly directed toward renewables such as wind and solar power, nuclear energy is now regaining prominence. The goal is straightforward: to secure a constant, carbon-free supply capable of scaling at the frenetic pace demanded by AI.
Microsoft plans to invest around 80 billion dollars in AI-capable data centers during the next fiscal year, with part of that energy coming from the refurbished Three Mile Island plant. Google, for its part, has signed an agreement with Kairos Power to build modular reactors (SMRs) capable of providing 500 MW by 2030. Amazon is also keeping pace: through its alliance with Dominion Energy and X-Energy, it plans to develop several SMRs that could collectively add up to 960 MW.
The scale of this demand is evident in the following U.S. Energy Information Administration chart, which compares the energy consumption of tech giants like Google and Microsoft to entire countries. The report shows how, in 2023, these companies reached—if not exceeded—the annual electricity consumption levels of entire nations, illustrating the magnitude of the energy challenge.
However, this nuclear «renaissance» is not without controversy. On one hand, some analysts fear that building new plants—whether large or modular—may lead to delays and cost overruns, as happened with previous projects in the United States. Additionally, environmental organizations criticize the handling of radioactive waste, the risk of accidents, and the competition with renewables, which could be sidelined if nuclear becomes the top investment priority.
Despite these doubts, the energy demand driven by AI seems unstoppable. It is estimated that in the United States alone, this need could triple in the coming years, pushing governments and investors to seek urgent solutions. Nuclear power thus emerges as both a major promise and a major controversy in the race to power our digital future.
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[2] https://www.xataka.com/energia/smr-estan-moda-que-nunca-todo-idilio-big-tech-energia-nuclear
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/es/2024/10/18/espanol/negocios/amazon-google-microsoft-energia-nuclear.html