Google will build the first nuclear reactor in Tennessee for its data centers
By ForGeeks
Large tech companies continue to make moves toward nuclear power: Google today announced the location of its first nuclear reactor under a 2024 agreement with startup Kairos Power. The Hermes 2 facility will come to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and will supply the company with 50 megawatts of electricity under a long-term contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
This facility will be the first in a larger 500-megawatt agreement involving several small modular reactors (SMRs) that will power Google’s data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Jackson County, Alabama. Hermes 2 is scheduled for launch in 2030.
TVA CEO Don Maule said nuclear power will be the foundation of future energy security. He said Google’s involvement in the financing and risks of such pilot projects ensures that those costs are not passed on to customers, and also accelerates the development of new technologies.
According to the agreement, Google and Kairos Power plan to reach full capacity of 500 megawatts by 2035. This marks the first corporate deal to purchase nuclear power from SMR reactors. Financial details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed.
