TZUTC: -0500
MSGID: 1448.consprcy@1:2320/105 2d144244
PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
BBSID: CAPCITY2
CHRS: ASCII 1
FORMAT: flowed
Google is building a small nuclear reactor in Tennessee to power its data
centers

Date:
Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:31:00 +0000

Description:
Google joins Kairos Power and TVA to deploy advanced nuclear reactor, aiming
to fuel expanding cloud hosting and AI growth.

FULL STORY

Google has entered into a collaboration with Kairos Power and the Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA) to support the development of a small modular nuclear
reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to power its infrastucture expansion. 

The company announced the Hermes 2 facility is expected to begin operations 
in 2030, and generate up to 50 megawatts of electricity for the TVA grid. 

This will help power Googles data centers in Tennessee and Alabama, which are
central to the companys growing needs for the likes of cloud hosting , cloud
storage , and AI tools .

Partnership model for advanced nuclear power 

The arrangement takes the form of a power purchase agreement, in which TVA
will buy electricity from Kairos Power and deliver the clean energy 
attributes to Google. 

The partners describe this as the first purchase of electricity from a
Generation IV reactor by a US utility. 

While the project provides only a fraction of the 500 megawatts Google has
outlined as a longer-term goal, it is being framed as a proof of concept for
how utilities, technology companies, and developers might share costs and
risks in future deployments. 

Unlike solar and wind, which depend on weather conditions, nuclear power can
provide continuous energy. 

"Nuclear is the bedrock of the future of energy security. Google stepping in
and helping shoulder the burden of the cost and risk for first-of-a-kind
nuclear projects... its not just good for Google. Its good for TVAs 10 
million customers. Its good for the United States," said Don Moul, CEO of 
TVA. 

However, nuclear construction has historically faced delays and cost 
overruns, raising questions about whether this new generation of reactors 
will truly deliver affordable and reliable power at scale. 

The project is also being presented as a way to boost economic activity in 
Oak Ridge, a city long tied to nuclear research and development. 

Training programs with the University of Tennessee and other local
institutions are being planned to prepare workers for technical roles at the
Hermes 2 plant. 

While the initiative promises high-paying jobs and renewed investment, 
critics may ask whether reliance on experimental nuclear designs is the most
effective strategy compared to expanding proven renewable generation. 

Nevertheless, this development has attracted interest and comments from
industry experts, government agencies, and politicians. 

To power the future, we need to grow the availability of smart, firm energy
sources... This collaboration with TVA, Kairos Power, and the Oak Ridge
community will accelerate the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies.
said Amanda Peterson Corio, Googles Global Head of Data Center Energy. 

This collaboration is an important enabler to making advanced nuclear energy
commercially competitive, said Mike Laufer, Kairos Power CEO and co-founder. 

Tennessees legacy of nuclear innovation positions the Volunteer State to lead
Americas energy dominance and drive continued economic growth with safe,
clean, and reliable nuclear energy, said Governor Bill Lee.

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/google-is-building-a-small-nuclear-reactor-in-te
nnessee-to-power-its-data-centers

$$
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
 * Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)
SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700
SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 111 206 300 307 317 400 426 428 470
SEEN-BY: 229/664 700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45
SEEN-BY: 460/58 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12 5075/35
PATH: 2320/105 229/426