AI data centers consume a lot of electricity, Google is also seeking to shift to nuclear energy
Google is collaborating with public utility companies in the United States and other countries to evaluate nuclear energy as a source of power for its data centers. This move reflects Google's increasing interest in nuclear energy, aiming to meet the power demands brought by the artificial intelligence boom. Google's energy chief, Amanda Peterson Corio, stated that nuclear energy could be a key component of future grids, with other tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon also actively investing in nuclear energy to achieve low-carbon and stable energy supply
According to CNBC, Google (GOOGL.US) is collaborating with utility companies in the United States and other countries to evaluate nuclear energy as a potential source of power for its data centers. This highlights Google's increasing interest in using nuclear energy to fuel the artificial intelligence boom.
Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Energy for Alphabet Google's data centers, stated, "In the United States, in highly regulated markets, we don't have the opportunity to directly purchase power, so we are working with our utility partners and power plants to explore how to introduce these new technologies - nuclear energy may be one of them - into the grid." She did not rule out the possibility of using nuclear energy in countries like Japan.
Other tech giants including Microsoft (MSFT.US) and Amazon (AMZN.US) have already placed their bets on nuclear energy, viewing it as a stable, low-carbon energy source that can meet the increasing power demands of their data centers while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and emissions. Microsoft has agreed to purchase power from the closed Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, while Amazon recently acquired a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.
Corio emphasized that for Google, "having uninterrupted, 24/7 power is crucial when we think about long-term growth."