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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
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