Amazon makes vague commitment to unproven nuclear tech to power Indiana datacenters
Partner X-energy has not built a single working reactor yet
Amazon is committing resources to a nuclear energy project in Indiana, with the aim of supplying power to its data centers. The company is investing billions in this project, though the specifics of the funding remain undisclosed. The project involves the development of 12 small modular reactors (SMRs) by X-energy, a startup focusing on next-generation nuclear power.
These reactors, known as Xe-100 models, will be built at a former coal power plant site in Sullivan County, Indiana. Once operational, the facility will generate 960 megawatts of grid-connected electricity, with Amazon as the first power purchaser. However, the timeline for the project's completion remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from the mid-2030s.
The development of SMRs has faced challenges, with the US lagging behind countries like China and Russia in building functional SMRs. The permitting process for nuclear power plants in the US can be complex, with different pathways available for approving standard designs or site-specific projects. X-energy has not yet received site-specific approval for the Indiana project, and the company's involvement is limited to funding and being the first consumer of the generated power.
Despite the potential for new technologies like SMRs, the path to commercial viability remains uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from The Register Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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