Google teams with nuclear power giant to give reactors a tune-up
Upgraded turbines, generators, and digital controls are expected to unlock an addition 890MW of capacity
Google has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with nuclear power giant Constellation Energy, securing nearly a gigawatt of new nuclear capacity. The deal will see Constellation bring an additional 890 megawatts of nuclear capacity online through targeted investments at existing nuclear plants, a process known as uprating.
This means upgrades to at least 11 nuclear plants across Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with improved turbines, steam generators, and digital control systems. The other 2,700 megawatts covered by the agreement will come from unspecified sources. Constellation anticipates spending $4.3 billion to fulfill its side of the deal, with plans to complete its first uprated reactor by 2028.
Google's datacenter ambitions require substantial power, and securing adequate energy is crucial for its operations. Other tech giants, such as Microsoft and Meta, are also exploring nuclear power options to support their AI and clean energy commitments.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Google teams with nuclear power giant to give reactors a tune-up theregister.com
