Amazon is betting big on small nuclear reactors to power its data centers

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Forbes or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Amazon is making significant investments in small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to power its expanding data centers
• The company has announced partnerships with Dominion Energy and Energy Northwest, as well as a $500 million investment in X-energy, with the goal of bringing 5 gigawatts of clean power online by 2039

🔭 The context: With rising demand for data center power, especially driven by AI, Amazon and other tech giants are turning to SMRs for scalable, carbon-free energy
• Unlike wind and solar, SMRs offer reliable, 24/7 power, which is crucial for data centers that need continuous energy

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: SMRs are viewed as a key technology in achieving net-zero emissions while meeting growing energy demands
• As they are smaller and quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants, SMRs can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support large-scale decarbonization

⏭️ What's next: Amazon plans to integrate SMRs into its data center operations, with power generation starting in the early 2030s
• The company expects nuclear energy to play a significant role in its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040

💬 One quote: “Over the last year, we have become much more bullish about what nuclear can provide” – Matt Garman, AWS CEO

📈 One stat: Amazon and X-energy aim to bring 5 gigawatts of nuclear power online by 2039—enough to power a mid-sized city

Click for more news covering the latest on power & utilities