Nvidia eyes converting old nuclear plants into massive AI data centers

Nvidia has teamed up with German energy company PreussenElektra GmbH in an initiative to potentially transform decommissioned nuclear power plant sites into high-performance AI data centers. The collaboration was announced on October 21st, as the two entities entered a preliminary partnership to explore the feasibility of converting these sites into AI factories.

AI data centers are currently experiencing a surge in demand for memory and storage, causing chip shortages that are impacting various industries, including the automotive sector. Nvidia's custom AI ASICs are at the forefront of addressing this crisis. Guido Knott, Chairman of PEL’s Management Board, highlighted the valuable industrial infrastructure found in former power plant sites and their potential for new, innovative uses.

Together, Nvidia and PreussenElektra aim to assess whether these sites can meet the stringent operational requirements of AI factories, including access to high-capacity infrastructure, proximity to water for cooling, and high-voltage grid connections. By repurposing these existing facilities, Nvidia hopes to cut costs and shorten the development timeline for AI data centers.

Markus Hacker, senior regional director at Nvidia, emphasized that these sites could provide a robust foundation for the next generation of computing. PreussenElektra is currently responsible for decommissioning and dismantling eight nuclear power plants, and together with Nvidia, is conducting an experimental feasibility assessment.

The project does not involve repurposing nuclear power for data centers and is strictly in the early stages, with no investment decisions or development plans finalized.