Google to fund development of three nuclear power sites

Wednesday, 7 May 2025

The aim is that each of the three sites would have "at least 600 MW of capacity". The value of the investment has not been included in the two companies' collaboration announcement, or the locations of the three proposed sites.

Google said: "This agreement is part of our continued work to source 24/7 baseload energy to support our operations and strengthen power grids. It also helps Elementl advance its goal of bringing significant nuclear capacity online by 2035. This innovative approach links capital investment directly with the growing demand for clean baseload power, with Google having the option for commercial off-take once projects are complete."

Elementl Power Chairman and CEO Chris Colbert said: "Innovative partnerships like this are necessary to mobilise the capital required to build new nuclear projects, which are critical to deliver safe, affordable and clean baseload power and help companies advance their long-term net-zero goals. We look forward to working with Google to execute these projects and bring safe, carbon-free, baseload electricity to the grid."

The two companies will work "with utility and regulated power partners to identify and advance new projects" and Elementl "will continue the evaluation of potential technology, engineering, procurement and construction, and other project partners, while prioritising specific sites for accelerated development".

Elementl Power, founded in 2022, describes itself as a technology-agnostic advanced nuclear project developer which aims to provide "turn-key development, financing and ownership solutions for customers that want access to clean baseload power but may not want to own or operate nuclear power assets".  It says its mission is to "to deploy over 10 gigawatts of next-generation nuclear power in the US by 2035".

It is not Google's first nuclear power deal - in October 2024 the company signed an agreement with Kairos Power to purchase power from its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature small modular reactors, with a fleet of up to 500 MW of capacity by 2035. The aim of the power purchase agreement was to facilitate Kairos Power to develop, construct, and operate plants and sell energy, ancillary services, and environmental attributes to Google.

At the time of that announcement Google said that it would help it achieve net-zero emissions across all of its operations and value chain by 2030.

Fellow tech companies Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook owner Meta have all signed agreements in recent months which could lead to them utilising nuclear technology to provide power for their growing data centre needs. The advantage of nuclear power is seen to be the ability to have 24/7 reliable, and clean, energy.

Article researched and written by WNN's Alex Hunt