Meta looks to nuclear energy to power AI | Meta Business Suite | Meta Business | Facebook app | Turtles AI

Meta is aiming to develop nuclear energy infrastructure to power its ambitious AI projects, with a request for proposals to provide up to 4 GW of nuclear power in the U.S. by 2030. The plan involves small modular reactors (SMRs), an emerging technology with regulatory challenges and high costs. Other big techs like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are exploring similar solutions, while energy sustainability remains a priority.

Key Points: 

• Meta seeks up to 4 GW of nuclear power to support AI development. 
• The tech giant intends to use small modular reactors (SMRs), a solution still in development. 
• Other industry giants, including Amazon and Microsoft, are exploring nuclear as an energy option for their data centers. 
• Regulatory challenges and the high cost of SMRs could hinder the realization of these ambitious projects.

Facebook parent company Meta has announced a new initiative to deploy nuclear power to meet the growing energy demands of its AI projects. By early 2030, Meta aims to have up to 4 gigawatts (GW) of power capacity in the United States to power its vast data centers, which are consuming soaring power as its AI efforts expand. The company said it will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to recruit developers who can provide that power, emphasizing the need for reliable, clean, renewable energy sources to fuel future technological growth. Meta has already made significant investments in solar and wind, but nuclear power appears to be the only option that can meet the massive energy demands of AI without compromising the company’s sustainability goals. This is not a new move for Meta, which previously considered building a complex of nuclear-powered data centers, although the project was blocked due to environmental concerns related to the presence of a rare species of bee. However, the push towards nuclear power has resumed with the idea of ​​integrating solutions such as small modular reactors (SMRs), devices that are smaller than traditional nuclear reactors and could be placed directly next to data centers. SMRs are already being studied and developed by several players in the sector, such as Oklo, X-energy and NuScale Power, who aim to make the technology safer and more cost-effective. However, despite the enthusiasm, these reactors have not yet been demonstrated in a large-scale commercial context, with their high cost and long construction times being two of the main obstacles. Despite these difficulties, other tech giants such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft are following the same path, betting on SMRs or existing nuclear plants for their data centers. Amazon, for example, has already partnered with X-energy to develop several modular reactors, while Google has explored similar solutions with Kairos Power. Amazon has also acquired a data center near the Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania, which houses a 2.5 GW facility. However, projects that rely on existing nuclear infrastructure also face regulatory scrutiny and logistical challenges. Amazon recently ran into difficulties when federal regulators rejected a deal to increase its power capacity at a site. These challenges highlight the complexity of nuclear projects, which require significant upfront investment and face challenges with safety and radioactive waste management. Despite these hurdles, companies are continuing to explore nuclear power as a possible long-term solution to the growing demand for AI power, knowing that other options may not be enough to meet their needs. Meta, for example, has said that despite the challenges, it is determined to pursue this path, banking on the availability of nuclear power to realize its ambitious development plans. The integration of nuclear energy into such an advanced and innovative context as data centers could represent a fundamental step for the future of the technology.

However, the success of these projects will depend on multiple factors, including the ability to overcome regulatory challenges, costs and the growing need for safe and efficient energy solutions.