Google has announced a partnership with Kairos Power to deploy small modular reactors that would supply low‑carbon electricity to data centers across North America. A major business publication reports that the deal envisions a total SMR capacity of 500 megawatts, with the first commercial unit expected online by 2030 and additional reactors by 2035. The arrangement is framed as a milestone in Google’s broader clean-energy program and signals a shift toward modular, siting‑flexible nuclear options that can be built faster and with simpler safety systems than traditional large reactors. Cited: industry press.
The plan would provide a scalable path for powering cloud and data infrastructure while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The 500 MW target reflects a staged approach, designed to match growing compute demand with a steady, controllable energy source. If realized, the project could help North American data centers meet ambitious decarbonization goals and offer a model for private‑public partnerships that couple technology leadership with advanced energy generation. The timeline calls for the first unit by 2030 and a progression to additional reactors by 2035, underscoring the ambition of rapid deployment and phased expansion.
Google’s energy and climate leadership describes the initiative as a significant step in cutting the carbon profile of large data operations. The company emphasizes that small modular reactors offer a more straightforward design, enhanced safety features, shorter construction timelines, and flexibility in siting compared with conventional, large-scale nuclear plants. These attributes are positioned as key benefits for meeting the energy needs of data centers while maintaining reliability and grid resilience. Cited: industry press.
Kairos Power, based in Alameda, California, develops reactors that are cooled by molten fluoride salt rather than water. In Tennessee, the company won approval to move forward with a 50‑megawatt Hermes demonstration reactor, a milestone that marks the first approval for a new reactor type in the United States in many decades. Hermes represents Kairos’s approach to modular, scalable nuclear technology designed to support staged deployment and easier siting across the region. Cited: industry press.
The Google‑Kairos deal is notable as the first instance of a technology company helping bring a nuclear power plant online. Neither side has disclosed the cost of the agreement or whether Google will fund construction upfront or structure payments based on electricity delivered after completion. The arrangement invites broader discussion about how private capital, technology firms, and energy policy can align to advance low‑carbon power for critical digital infrastructure. Cited: industry press.