Google is stepping into the nuclear energy space with a major new deal aimed at securing reliable power for the growing demands of artificial intelligence.
The tech giant announced it will fund the development of three new nuclear power plants across the United States, in partnership with nuclear startup Elementl Power.
The agreement reflects a growing shift among major technology companies, who are looking for cleaner, more dependable sources of energy as AI expands rapidly. Each of the planned nuclear facilities will generate at least 600 megawatts of electricity—enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes and roughly equal to traditional large-scale power stations.
This move comes as data centres, which are the backbone of AI and cloud computing, require more electricity than ever before. The International Energy Agency expects global data centre power use to more than double by 2030, putting stress on existing grids and raising concerns about long-term energy supplies.
Google’s Head of Data Centre Energy, Amanda Peterson Corio, said that nuclear energy’s constant output makes it well-suited for powering AI operations and supporting America’s innovation goals. Unlike solar or wind, nuclear plants can provide round-the-clock electricity without the carbon emissions of fossil fuels.
Finding the right locations will be a key part of the project. Google and Elementl will work with utilities and state regulators to identify where these new plants can be built. The process involves environmental reviews, safety assessments, and careful planning—especially since nuclear development often sparks political and public debate.
Other tech giants are already moving in the same direction. Microsoft has announced plans to buy energy from new reactors at Three Mile Island, the infamous site of a 1979 nuclear accident. Amazon, too, signed a nuclear energy deal last year and is investing in emerging technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which promise easier and potentially faster deployment compared to traditional plants.
Google is also exploring SMRs through a separate partnership with Kairos Power, with hopes of getting small-scale nuclear systems running by the end of the decade. These compact reactors are still in development but are attracting growing interest from both private investors and governments.
While nuclear power remains costly and controversial, it offers one of the few scalable, zero-carbon energy sources capable of supporting the massive computing needs of future technologies. For companies like Google, the move signals a commitment not only to clean energy, but to staying ahead in the race to power the AI age.