Meta turns to nuclear to fuel AI data needs
Facebook's parent company Meta has announced a series of deals with several energy firms to purchase nuclear power to fuel the energy demands of its artificial-intelligence (AI) data centres.
The tech giant states that the “landmark agreements” will extend and expand the operation of three nuclear power plants, boost development of advanced nuclear technology, and foster job growth.
“As the demand for reliable, scalable, and clean energy continues to rise, advanced nuclear technology has the potential to become a key part of the solution,” Meta said in a statement.
The surge in AI development and related data-centre operations requires a significant amount of reliable, round-the-clock, carbon-free power that intermittent renewables alone currently cannot provide at scale, it states.
Meta has signed multiple agreements that are expected to provide up to 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of new and existing clean energy by 2035.
These deals make Meta one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear energy in US history.
Meta's partners in these agreements include both established power producers and nuclear start-ups:
- Vistra: A 20-year agreement to purchase electricity from existing nuclear plants in Ohio (Perry Nuclear Power Station and Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station) and Pennsylvania (Beaver Valley Power Station), which will extend the lifespan of these facilities,
- TerraPower: An agreement that will provide funding for the development of new advanced reactors (Natrium units) with options for significant future expansion,
- Oklo: A deal to purchase power from proposed small modular reactors (SMRs), pending regulatory approval,
- Constellation Energy: An existing 20-year deal to buy all the output from its Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois.
Supercluster data centre
The power will primarily support Meta's AI initiatives, including the ‘Prometheus’ supercluster data centre being built in New Albany, Ohio.
Meta joins other tech giants such as Amazon and Google in turning to nuclear plants to meet the escalating power demands of the AI industry.
“At Meta, we’re focused on building personal superintelligence for everyone, and delivering the app experiences and computing devices that will improve the lives of billions of people around the world,” the statement adds.