Goal, the giant behind Facebook and Instagram knows that artificial intelligence (AI) does not feed only on language models. It also needs energy, a lot and stable. That’s why has sealed an agreement 20 years with constellation energy to supply nuclear electricity Apart from your data centers in the United States. It does not seem a symbolic gesture or a green bet for the gallery: it is a calculated play to shield its infrastructure and maintain the pulse of AI development in an increasingly competitive world.
The movement is not less. Technology has reached an agreement for the nuclear plant Clinton Clean Energy Centerlocated in Illinois, feeds its data centers in the region from 2027. It is a reactor that was planned to close in 2017 after years of financial losses, but that could continue to function despite the challenges. According to the Menlo Park headquarters, the agreement will allow the facilities to be kept, preserving more than 1,100 jobs.
The nuclear enters the goal solution for finishing
The company’s investment will also help make the necessary improvements to increase energy production by 30 megawatts, reaching a total capacity of 1,121 megawatts. It is not clear what percentage of the electricity produced will use the technological giant to boost its AI infrastructure, But it is known that current production reaches about 800,000 American homes.
While the energy demand of data centers grows exponentially, the technology industry seeks solutions that do not compromise or Supply stability nor its environmental commitments. In that context, nuclear energy has reappeared as a viable alternative: does not emit carbon dioxide during generation and offers constant production, unlike renewable sources such as solar or wind, which depend on variable climatic conditions.
Goldman Sachs had already anticipated This turn. In a recent report, the Investment Bank warned that, if the AI adoption rhythm is maintained, the energy demand linked to this technology could be multiplied by 160 from here to 2030. To maintain that growth, it will be necessary to build between 85 and 90 gigawats of new nuclear capacity in the United States. And that is where nuclear energy comes into play as a high performance solution and low carbon footprint.
This goal bet is not isolated. Google has advanced in the same direction With agreements like the one who maintains with Kairos Power, a company that develops Modular reactors (SMR) up to 500 megawatts. Amazon has also taken the step and has signed several agreements to boost the construction of these Small and advanced reactorsincluding projects with Energy Northwest, Dominion Energy and the Startup X-Energy, which works in new generation rapid reactors.
Nuclear energy is not free of challenges. Its infrastructure remains expensive and concerns about safety and waste management are still present, especially due to the legacy of previous technologies. But the new generations of reactors, such as SMRs, promise to address many of these obstacles: with safer designs, shorter deployment times and potentially more contained costs.
For companies as a goal, the priority seems to be to guarantee a long -term energy supply, without shocks and with the least possible carbon footprint. The agreement with Constellation Energy reflects that reality, but remains to be seen if these plans materialize as planned. It would not be the first time that such a project is complicated: In 2022, one of its previous attempts In Idaho It was pause After detecting the presence of a rare species of bee in the field for infrastructure.
Images | Goal | Constellation
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