Meta Platforms Inc. has announced plans to integrate energy into its operations. The tech giant revealed that it is soliciting proposals from nuclear power developers to add one to four gigawatts (GW) of new nuclear generation capacity in the United States by the early 2030s.
This strategic move aligns with projections by Goldman Sachs, which estimate that U.S. data centre power consumption will triple between 2023 and 2030, requiring approximately 47 GW of additional electricity generation capacity, reports Reuters.
Meta isn’t alone in exploring nuclear energy solutions. Earlier this year, Microsoft partnered with Constellation Energy to restart a unit at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania — a first-of-its-kind initiative for data centres.
Similarly, Amazon struck a deal with Talen Energy to power data centres using nuclear energy.
However, despite its promise, nuclear energy faces significant hurdles. Regulatory bottlenecks, uranium fuel supply issues and potential local opposition could slow progress. Meta seeks developers with proven expertise in community engagement, permitting, and nuclear project development to address these complexities.
The company is open to small modular reactors (SMRs), an emerging but not yet commercial technology, and traditional large-scale reactors akin to existing U.S. plants.
Meta is adopting a request-for-proposal (RFP) process to ensure a thorough and deliberate approach. The company said nuclear power is more capital- and time-intensive and subject to more regulatory requirements. Thus, the company plans to go the RFP way.
“An RFP process will allow us to approach these projects thoroughly and thoughtfully with these considerations in mind,” Meta said.
The proposal submission window is open until February 7, 2025, giving developers ample time to present viable solutions.
As AI-driven technologies expand, so does the demand for sustainable and reliable power sources. Although nuclear technology is expensive, it remains a viable option compared to other renewable energy production methods.
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