Google has partnered with nuclear startup Kairos Power, backed by the US Department of Energy, to utilize energy generated from small modular reactors for its AI operations.

The agreement, signed on Monday, supports the construction of seven small modular reactors that will produce a combined 500 megawatts of electricity, with the first reactor projected to commence operations by 2030.

Google’s collaboration with Kairos Power aims to expedite the development of clean and reliable energy solutions necessary for sustainable AI growth, aligning with a shift among major tech companies such as Microsoft and Amazon toward exploring nuclear energy for their data centers.

Last month, Microsoft revealed plans to refurbish a decommissioned nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, set to provide power for the next two decades.

In addition, Amazon plans to power its new data center campus with energy sourced from a nearby nuclear facility, highlighting this movement towards sustainable energy solutions.

Data centers consume about 3 percent of the world’s electricity, and this figure is expected to increase significantly over the coming years.

Advocates for small modular reactors argue that these systems provide a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional large-scale nuclear reactors.