Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announced that it is seeking nuclear energy developers for systems that will be operational in the early 2030s as part of its artificial intelligence and sustainability goals.
In a statement, Meta emphasized the importance of nuclear energy in supporting the growth needs of the electricity grids that power both the company’s data centers and the communities around them. Emphasizing that supporting the development of clean energy should continue to be a priority as electricity grids expand to meet growing energy needs, the statement said, “At Meta, we believe that nuclear energy will play an important role in the transition to a cleaner, more reliable and diversified electricity grid.” The statement said that a request for proposals will be published to identify nuclear energy developers to help achieve artificial intelligence and sustainability goals. The statement underlined that the goal is to add 1-4 gigawatts of new nuclear generation capacity in the U.S. for delivery by the early 2030s, and that developers are being sought to accelerate the development of new nuclear generators, reduce costs through scaling, and support Meta’s energy needs while advancing the decarbonization of the industry. The statement noted that it is believed that working with partners who will permit, design, engineer, finance, build, and operate these plants will provide the long-term view necessary to accelerate nuclear technology. TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES ARE TURNING TO NUCLEAR Meta’s announcement that it is looking for nuclear energy developers is a new example of companies turning to nuclear to meet the increasing energy demand from data centers. Microsoft signed an agreement to restart operations at the Three Mile Island power plant in September. In October, Google announced it would buy power from small modular reactor (SMR) developer Kairos Power, the same month Amazon struck SMR deals as part of its carbon-free energy transition plan.
