Google goes nuclear to power its AI data centers, committing to buy 890 megawatts of energy from Constellation

Google Inc. has entered into a long-term agreement to acquire 890 megawatts of nuclear energy from Constellation Energy Corp. for its expanding network of artificial intelligence data centers. The 20-year power purchase deal will allow Constellation to invest in upgrading 11 nuclear power units at six facilities across Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

These enhancements include state-of-the-art turbines, modern steam generators, and advanced digital control systems, all aimed at boosting the efficiency of the plants. The new energy capacity will be added to the PJM Interconnection grid, serving 13 Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states and approximately 67 million people. While the exact cost of the new nuclear energy has not been disclosed, the agreement provides Constellation with the financial stability needed to fund the substantial upgrades without burdening consumers.

In addition to the 890-megawatt expansion, the two companies have also signed a separate 15-year supply deal for an additional 2,700 megawatts. As part of this arrangement, Google Cloud has secured a five-year contract with Constellation to provide the tech giant with cloud computing resources and the Gemini Enterprise platform.

This partnership aims to optimize AI-driven site selection, outage management, critical infrastructure protection, and generator dispatch optimization. The agreement not only benefits Google and Constellation but also creates numerous economic opportunities. It is expected to sustain 4,400 existing high-skilled jobs while generating approximately 7,200 new construction positions during the upgrade phase.

Google's Global Head of Data Center Energy, Amanda Peterson Corio, emphasized that the deal will allow Constellation to maximize its existing nuclear infrastructure, providing more energy for Americans without constructing new facilities. The technology industry has increasingly turned to nuclear power as a lower-cost and climate-friendly alternative to carbon-based energy sources.

Other major tech firms, such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Meta Platforms, have also invested in nuclear energy for their operations.