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Why are tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon turning to nuclear energy?

In recent years, major technology companies like Google, Microsoft, And Amazon made a radical choice to secure their energy supply: rely on nuclear energy. As data center energy demand explodes due to the growth of cloud-based services andartificial intelligence (IA), the need for a reliable and sustainable energy source has become essential. Nuclear energy, once marginalized in debates on the energy transition, is now proving to be an attractive solution for these giants.

There are many energy challenges for these companies. With a frantic race to develop more complex AI algorithms and more powerful, the energy consumption of their infrastructures continues to grow. The transition to renewable energy sources, although important, sometimes struggles to guarantee stability of supply. It is in this context that nuclear energy, particularly through modular nuclear reactors (SMR), emerges as a strategic alternative.

According to many experts, SMRs have several advantages: they are more compact, more flexible, and safer than traditional reactors. In addition, their ability to operate continuously without depending on weather conditions (as is the case for solar or wind energy) makes them an ideal solution to meet the constant energy demand data centers.

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Nuclear energy: a lever to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is at the heart of technological developments by industry giants. However, this progress comes with an unavoidable reality: AI systems require unprecedented computing power, which translates into an exponential increase in data center energy consumption. Maintaining such an infrastructure requires a massive and uninterrupted flow of energy.

Faced with this reality, companies like Google and Microsoft are exploring new solutions to meet their energy needs without compromising their commitments to carbon neutrality. Modular nuclear reactors are thus becoming a strategic choice. They generate carbon-free energy, while offering the reliability necessary to power such resource-intensive networks. SMRs are seen as a key innovation to meet these specific needs. Their smaller size and

flexibility make them easier to install near data centers. In addition, they are cheaper to build and maintain than traditional nuclear power plants, making them a more attractive option for technology companies looking to invest in a long-term energy solution. https://srqbacklot.com/energy/artificial-intelligence-unexpected-catalyst-of-european-nuclear-fusion/595121/ Microsoft, Google, Amazon: Concrete nuclear projects

In recent years,

Microsoft

, Googleand Amazon have all taken concrete steps to integrate nuclear energy into their long-term energy strategies. Microsoft, for example, was one of the first to announce its intention to explore the use of modular nuclear reactors to power its data centers. In 2023, the company signed partnerships with nuclear technology providers to test the feasibility of such integration. These initiatives are part of the company’s drive to become carbon negative by 2030 . For its part,Google

recently followed this trend by stating that it was seriously considering using SMRs for its own data centers, which are essential to the operation of its cloud and AI services. The search giant has also emphasized the need to diversify its energy sources to ensure continuous and reliable power across its global operations, particularly as AI becomes increasingly central to its business. Finally, Amazon

is also exploring this avenue. With a massive infrastructure powered by one of the largest data center networks in the world, the online retail and cloud computing giant is taking a keen interest in nuclear energy. Although it is still tight-lipped about the details of its specific projects, rumors of investments in modular nuclear reactors to strengthen its energy supply are multiplying. The goal for all these companies is clear: to secure an energy source capable of supporting their growing ambitions in terms of technological development. Economic and environmental impacts: is nuclear the best option? The use of nuclear energy by technology giants raises important questions about its

economic and environmental implications. From an economic point of view, investments in modular nuclear reactors represent a bold gamble. Their construction, although less expensive than that of traditional reactors, nevertheless remains a

considerable financial commitment . However, in the long term, these investments should help reduce companies’ dependence on fossil fuels and fluctuations in the energy market, thus offering them greaterbudgetary predictability .Environmentally, nuclear energy is often seen as a clean alternativecompared to fossil fuels, because it emits very little

greenhouse gas . For companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon, looking to achieve carbon neutrality , nuclear energy represents a credible solution to fill the gaps in intermittent renewable energies such as solar or wind. Indeed, nuclear production is stable and continuous, which is crucial for powering digital infrastructures that operate 24/7.However, it is not all without controversy. Questions relating to the nuclear waste managementand the risk of accidents, although reduced with SMRs, remains. Additionally, public opinion on nuclear energy remains divided, particularly in some countries where sensitivity on the subject is high. Nevertheless, the benefits seem, for the moment, to outweigh the risks for technology companies, which see nuclear power as an essential lever to support their expansion.

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