Google has announced a strategic agreement with Elementl Power, a South Carolina-based nuclear project developer, to fund the development of at least three new nuclear power projects. This initiative underscores Google’s commitment to securing a reliable and carbon-free energy supply to power its expanding network of energy-intensive data centers.
The partnership, announced on Wednesday, marks the latest move by a major technology firm to leverage advanced nuclear power in support of its growing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Each of the planned projects is expected to have a generation capacity of 600 megawatts, contributing to Elementl’s ambitious goal of bringing more than 10 gigawatts of nuclear capacity online by 2035.
While the precise financial terms of the agreement and the locations of the proposed power plants were not disclosed, Elementl confirmed that Google’s investment will be directed towards crucial early-stage development activities, including site permitting and interconnection rights.
This collaboration highlights the increasing convergence of energy companies and technology giants as they seek innovative solutions to meet both climate objectives and the escalating energy demands driven by AI technologies.
“Innovative partnerships like this are necessary to mobilize the capital required to build new nuclear projects,” stated Chris Colbert, CEO of Elementl Power.
Elementl Power, established in 2022, is currently in the development phase and has not yet constructed any nuclear facilities. The company has indicated that it will select the most mature reactor technology available when it is ready to commence construction.
This agreement builds upon Google’s growing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) as a potential clean energy source. In the previous year, Google announced a partnership with SMR developer Kairos Power, outlining plans to procure energy from their reactors, with the first project anticipated to be operational by 2030.
“Google is committed to catalyzing projects that strengthen the power grids where we operate, and advanced nuclear technology provides reliable, baseload, 24/7 energy,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy at Google.
As part of the agreement, Google will also have the option to purchase electricity generated by the new nuclear power projects once they become operational.
