Nuclear Energy and Data:
Chris Sharp, the chief technology officer at Digital Realty, a company specializing in building data centers, is at the forefront of the intersection between construction and high technology. Sharp is passionate about technology with a gleaming Concorde model on his desk and old circuit boards adorning shelves. Digital Realty recently constructed a massive data center in Portland, Oregon, that is explicitly dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI). The increasing demand for AI, which requires significantly more processing power than standard computing, reshapes the data center landscape.
Sharp highlights the differences between a conventional data center and one designed for AI. While a regular data center requires 32 megawatts of power, an AI data center demands 80 megawatts due to AI systems’ intensive processing and data consumption. The technical support network for AI is also more intricate, involving five times more cabling. This surge in power consumption poses a challenge, as it competes with residential and industrial needs, potentially leading to strain on existing power grids.
Sharp suggests adopting nuclear power, particularly Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to address this issue. SMRs are advanced reactor designs with about one-third of the power generation of traditional nuclear plants. Although no commercial SMRs are currently operational, China is pioneering their development, and similar technology is employed in nuclear-powered submarines.
While most companies developing SMRs focus on powering towns and cities, some specialized firms consider data centers ideal candidates for their designs. Dr. Michael Bluck from Imperial College London points out that the power requirements of data centers, especially with the rise of AI, make them suitable for small, fast reactors. However, regulatory approval remains a hurdle.
In the U.S., NuScale’s SMR design has received approval from the Office of Nuclear Energy, while the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation studies designs from Rolls-Royce and Holtec International. Companies like Westinghouse are exploring building SMRs near existing nuclear power stations.
While some experts believe that the involvement of the tech sector, armed with substantial resources, will drive the development of SMRs, others, like Dr. Doug Parr from Greenpeace UK, express concerns about the high costs and safety issues associated with nuclear power. The debate continues, with proponents asserting that nuclear power, particularly SMRs, is the answer to meeting the escalating power demands of AI-driven data centers. Oklo, a California-based company, claims to have an almost-ready SMR design tailored for AI, envisioning its integration into data center infrastructure by 2028.
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