2024-10-18 06:40:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR KEY
BLOOMBERG - Oct 16, 2024 - Alphabet Inc.’s Google sees nuclear power as a key part of its strategy to get around-the-clock clean energy to operate artificial intelligence facilities, Michael Terrell, senior director of energy and climate, said on Bloomberg Television.
Earlier this week, Google announced its first investment in nuclear power by supporting the development of several advanced small modular reactors from Kairos Power. Those reactors are slated to come online from 2030 through 2035, with a combined capacity of 500 megawatts. Terrell declined to provide any financial details on the deal, but said Google is pursuing nuclear because it makes sense for the company.
“We feel that nuclear is a very important technology for going carbon free for offices, data centers, communities where we operate,” Terrell said in the interview. “To get to carbon free, 24 hours a day, we need more technologies than just wind and solar.”
Mountain View, California-based Google signed 4 gigawatts worth of deals to buy electricity from renewable projects last year, a record for the company, Terrell said. Google is continuing to pursue wind and solar deals, and it’s also “inking agreements” with utilities to develop portfolios of 24-hour carbon-free energy, he said.
Some of the world’s biggest tech companies are scrambling to secure clean power to support the buildout of data centers, especially as AI takes off. Google’s announcement follows a big bet by Microsoft Corp. for power from the soon-to-be-restarted Three Mile Island nuclear plant. And on Wednesday, X-Energy, another developer of the new breed of smaller reactors, said Amazon Inc. and billion financier Ken Griffin are among backers of $500 million in investments.
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Earlier:
2024, September, 30, 06:50:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
At New York Climate Week, a group of 14 financial institutions on Monday stated their recognition that global civil nuclear energy projects have an important role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
2024, September, 9, 06:40:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR COOPERATION
More than 20 countries at COP28 pledged to work towards tripling global nuclear power capacity to reach net-zero by 2050.
2024, August, 28, 06:45:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR POWER CHANGES
In 2023, nuclear power generation increased by 2% despite a slight decrease in total installed capacity.
2024, May, 7, 06:35:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR ENERGY RISKS
The nuclear energy future that is being proposed now – small, flexible reactors distributed everywhere for many uses besides electricity – will not reduce, but will add to the
national security risks that are unique to nuclear energy. On top of this, cooperation among key states essential to minimize the safety, security and proliferation risks of nuclear energy is at an all-time low.
2024, April, 17, 06:45:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR CLIMATE RISKS
"Climate change is expected to exacerbate natural hazards - including heat, drought, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and sea level rise," the GAO notes.
2024, February, 16, 06:40:00
GLOBAL CLEAN NUCLEAR POWER
"Those countries that opt to use nuclear energy or support its use recognise its potential as a clean energy source that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, to address the climate crisis and improve global energy security," a ministerial communiqué released at the end of the event said.
2024, February, 2, 06:45:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE
For nuclear power to live up to the current hype it is getting, it needs to fully address its perennial issues and problems, and so far it has not done so.
2023, December, 15, 06:45:00
GLOBAL NUCLEAR GROWTH
The declaration says the countries recognise the need for a tripling of nuclear energy capacity to achieve "global net-zero greenhouse gas/carbon neutrality by or around mid-century and in keeping a 1.5 degrees celsius limit on temperature rise within reach".
